It’s now been a few months, and Cancun’s air traffic decline is starting to steepen, according to new data from ASUR, which manages the airport as part of a broader regional portfolio.
Passenger traffic in Cancun saw a 14.9 percent reduction in October compared to the same month in 2023, according to the report, with a total of 2.092 million passengers. That was down from 2.458 million in October 2023.
That was driven by an 18.3 percent decline in domestic traffic in Mexico, and a 12.2 percent reduction in international traffic.
For the year to date, passenger traffic to Cancun is now down by 6.9 percent, with 25.2 million passengers served — down from 27.07 million in the first 10 months of last year.
Is it simply reduced travel demand? It’s not yet clear. For one, the destination was seeing blazing growth for the entirety of the post-pandemic period, and a correction was bound to occur.
Nearby Tulum’s new airport has undoubtedly been stealing some market share as well, opening at the end of last year and seeing big growth from all major US carriers.
And then there is what has been a very active storm season in the western part of the Caribbean Basin.
Does adding up all these factors give you a full explanation for the decline? It’s too early to tell.
But many top Caribbean destinations have continued to see strong growth even though the slower season.
It’s something to keep an eye on.
