Less than two years after the Grand Opening of Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport, Tulum has a significant decline In Air Travel Connectivity. Large airlines from North and South America reduce or cancel routes to the once trendy destination, stating the falling demand, rising costs and operational challenges.
Airlines withdraw from Tulum
Air Canada has announced a reduction of almost 30% in its winter service to Tulum, canceling seasonal flights from Ottawa and Quebec City and reduced the frequency of Montreal. American Airlines ends its Charlotte-Tulum route, which was only launched in March 2024, with the last flight planned for February 13, 2025.
United Airlines also scales back, cancels the planned Denver-Tulum route and eliminates service from Chicago and Los Angeles. In addition, Latin -American carriers Avianca and Copa Airlines have stopped all flights to Tulum, with reference to problems with Mexican immigration authorities that reject tourists from countries such as Colombia and Brazil.
Underlying causes
Various factors contribute to the decreasing appeal of Tulum:
- Rise: Tulum has evolved from a budget -friendly destination to a luxury hotspot, with rising prices for accommodations, dining and transport.
- Safety problems: Reports of increased crime, including drug -related incidents, have expressed safety problems in potential visitors.
- Sargassum peaks: In 2025, the Mexican Caribbean still sees a huge Sargassum seaweed invasion, which discourages tourism.
- Overdevelopment: Fast, often non -regulated development has led to relegation of the environment and tense local infrastructure, which reduces the original charm of the city.
- Immigration problems: Strict enforcement by the Mexican immigration authorities has led to tourists from certain countries refusing access, leading to cancellations and reputation damage.
Impact on tourism
According to Aviation Analytics Firm Cirium, the planned flight capacity of Tulum is expected to decrease by approximately 23% in December 2025 compared to the previous year. This decline reflects broader concerns about the sustainability of Tulum as a prominent tourist destination.
Local companies and the tourism sector feel the effects, with reduced visitor numbers that influence income and employment. The situation underlines the need for a strategic reassessment of Tulum’s development and tourist policy to balance growth with sustainability.
