Cancun International Airport Expands Flight Routes and Sustainability Efforts

by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 8:30 PM ET, Thu September 19, 2024

Cancun International Airport is adding several new direct flights from key U.S. and Canadian cities.

The new flights are part of a broader effort to enhance operations and facilities at the airport, which is one of the 50 busiest in the world.

Additional improvements will include infrastructure upgrades and new sustainability-focused initiatives, all of which are meant to transform travel to the region, according to a press release from the airport.

"Our goal is to provide seamless access to the full range of experiences the Mexican Caribbean offers,” Bernardo Cueto, State Secretary of Tourism for Quintana Roo, said in a statement. "Cancun International Airport is at the heart of this growth, ensuring that millions of travelers can enjoy a more efficient and environmentally responsible visit."

Direct route additions

Ahead of the peak holiday season, American Airlines will increase its Phoenix-Cancun service to two daily flights starting November 5, while boosting its Miami-Cancun service to six daily flights from December 19 to January 6, 2025, according to a news release from the airport.

In addition, Aeromexico will launch daily service from Miami to Cancun on December 19, and Avelo Airlines will introduce bi-weekly international flights from Bradley International Airport (BDL) in Connecticut this November.

Volaris, meanwhile, has further expanded connectivity by adding direct flights from McAllen International Airport (MFE) in Texas, offering more affordable travel options to Cancun.

Cancun International Airport connects to major carriers across the U.S. and Canada, contributing to North America’s dominant share of international travel to Mexico, which accounted for 87 percent of all departures in the first quarter of 2024.

U.S. flights alone carried 10.35 million passengers during this period, reflecting an 8.4 percent increase over 2023, according to data from the airport.

Two-thirds of the flights arriving in Cancun are international, with a high volume of daily arrivals from major hubs in the U.S. and Canada.

“Since 2022, the volume of U.S. travelers at Cancun International Airport has been up a minimum of 35 percent annually in comparison to pre-pandemic numbers from 2019, and we are anticipating a strong winter season in 2025," said Andres Martinez, Director of the Tourism Promotion Council of Quintana Roo (CPTQ). "As we continue forward in our ‘New Era’ of tourism, we have made notable progress in expanding capacity and new routes to welcome even more visitors to discover what makes our region one of the most desired travel destinations in the world.”

Sustainability and infrastructure investments

As part of today’s announcement, airport officials also revealed that there’s significant investment being made to improve infrastructure at the airport. And those improvements are focusing heavily on integrating sustainable practices.

Examples of such efforts provided by the airport included:

The expansion of Terminal 4, which is meant to increase the airport's capacity to accommodate more flights and passengers, while integrating eco-friendly design elements such as energy-efficient lighting and renewable energy systems.
Water conservation efforts and eco-friendly ground transportation options are also part of the airport’s plan to align with global sustainability standards.

  “These efforts underscore the airport’s commitment to preserving the natural environment of the Mexican Caribbean while supporting the region’s economic growth through responsible tourism,” said the news release.

Enhanced visitor experience

Additional improvements at the airport have focused on customs processing and ground transportation in order to reduce wait times and streamline connections.

That has included:

Newly installed self-service kiosks in Terminal 3, costing $7.6 million, and speeding up the check-in process for U.S.-bound travelers. Travelers can now complete check-in and baggage handling in under five minutes.
60 immigration agents at the airport received public relations training from the Cancun Hotel Association tourism sector over the summer, ensuring top-tier customer service for the growing number of visitors.