Cancun Airport Continues to See Passenger Traffic Decline
Is it because of the growth of Tulum, or signs of a broader tourism decline in Cancun? Those are the big questions following another month of passenger traffic decline in the Mexican Caribbean destination of Cancun.
Passenger traffic was 2.397 million in August, down by 14.1 percent from the same period in 2023, according to data from ASUR, which manages the airport.
That included 14.8 percent decline and 13.6 percent decline in domestic and international traffic, respectively, according to the data.
For the year, passenger traffic in Cancun is a robust 22.445 million — but that still represents a reduction of 5.5 percent compared to the first eight months of last year.
Observers point to the 2024 debut of the new Tulum airport — which has attracted flights from every major carrier in the US and Canada — as part of the reason, with travelers to Tulum opting for direct flights rather than flying into Cancun taking what is typically a two-hour drive.
The other question is, of course, whether it’s a sign of a broader cooling off for a destination that has been one of the biggest success stories of the post-pandemic travel era.
It certainly bears watching.
