How Airline Service is Changing this Winter in Mexico and the Caribbean

Travelers headed to Mexico and the Caribbean this winter will find a mixed bag of options when booking air travel. New nonstop flights are adding convenience to some destinations, while others face service reductions. Staying on top of the rapidly shifting air travel scene in both regions is key to smooth planning for both business and leisure travelers. 

Here are some of the latest air travel developments in Mexico and the Caribbean. 

Mexico Airline Update

Mexico’s biggest recent aviation shift could be good news for some travelers. On October 16, the U.S. Department of Transportation eliminated restrictions that have prevented Mexican carriers from adding flights to the United States from both Mexico City airports: Benito Juarez International and Felipe Angeles International. 

That move came after Mexico took measures to resolve a dispute regarding compliance with the bilateral air transportation agreement. Aeromexico indicated on October 19 that it was considering new flights previously put on hold, and low-cost carriers Volaris and Viva Aerobus are also now empowered to pursue new routes. 

Mexico’s commercial aviation scene may soon witness an even more consequential change, as the nation’s antitrust authority is expected to approve a proposed merger of Volaris and Viva Aerobus. The two carriers already dominate domestic travel within Mexico, operating about three-quarters of domestic flights, according to Reuters. Approval of the merger — likely contingent on restrictions on fares, routes and layoffs — was still pending at press time. 

Volaris, meanwhile, is in growth mode with new nonstop routes from the United States to Guadalajara, Puebla and Queretaro launched in October. Guadalajara International Airport is a focus for especially strong growth in transborder routes. 

Farther west, Alaska Airlines is launching seasonal nonstop service between San Diego International Airport and Loreto International Airport on December 19. 

Even as service expands in some regions of Mexico, other destinations are slated for decreased connectivity. That’s especially apparent at Tulum International Airport, where Aeromexico suspended service on September 30, and Volaris plans to suspend flights on January 7. American Airlines is also scheduled to discontinue its Miami–Tulum service in January, although flights to and from Dallas/Fort Worth will continue. As multiple airlines reduce or cut service, most travelers will likely be forced to fly into Cancun International Airport when visiting the state of Quintana Roo. 

That’s not the only cut from American Airlines. The carrier is also axing its Charlotte-Los Cabos nonstops as of August 2027. 

Caribbean Airline Update

As the winter season approaches, the Caribbean appears especially well positioned, with a mix of new nonstop flights linking the region with the United States and new inter-island service that makes multi-destination vacations easier to plan. 

The launch of new island-hopping routes matches apparent demand: in a recent Rome2Rio survey of 1,000 U.S. and U.K. adults, a whopping 95% of respondents said they’d be at least moderately interested in visiting multiple places on a future trip — but 31% of past travelers said that transportation issues caused them to stay in just one destination. 

Contour Airlines’ October expansion is a prominent example of regional network growth. This month, the airline launched twice-weekly nonstop flights linking Dominica with Port of Spain, Trinidad. Travelers from San Juan and St. Thomas can also reach Trinidad on one-stop service through Dominica, and Contour has also debuted twice-weekly St. Thomas–St. Maarten service. 

Aeromexico plane at Benito Juárez International Airport in Mexico City. (Photo Credit: DepartureLevel)

Bermuda Air is among the fastest-growing airlines in the region, with new service to U.S. cities as well as among Caribbean destinations. The October 26 launch of flights from Fort Lauderdale to Belize City and Providenciales is just one example; additional winter routes will link Belize with Boston, Raleigh-Durham, Orlando Sanford and St. Petersburg, while Providenciales sees new service connecting several U.S. markets, including Newark, Boston, Baltimore-Washington and Raleigh-Durham.

In addition, BermudAir is gearing up for a new, twice-weekly Newark–South Caicos service, which will run from December 20 through April 25. New routes also include Providenciales–Grand Cayman and Anguilla–Providenciales routes. 

Also bulking up Caribbean service is Southwest Airlines, which will field nonstop Saturday flights from Nashville to Aruba, Montego Bay and St. Thomas, effective March 13, 2027. 

Meanwhile, some smaller Caribbean destinations are upping the ante with improved facilities. Nevis broke ground in July on an expansion of Vance W. Amory International Airport, with improvements to the runway and apron; Winair’s daily flights now connect the island to St. Maarten. 

In neighboring St. Kitts, meanwhile, Trans Anguilla Airways has opened a new airport office that Anguilla's director of tourism, Jameel Rochester, says underscores a commitment to strengthening regional air connectivity. “We should recognize the value of each step forward — a new office, additional service, increased capacity or easier booking — because together they move us closer to a better-connected Caribbean,” he said. 

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