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Tulum’s New Airport Lands Two More Airlines

Both JetBlue and Air Canada have announced service to the brand-new airport.

An Air Canada 737 MAX. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

Two new airlines have announced plans to fly into the new airport in Tulum, Mexico. JetBlue and Canadian flag carrier Air Canada are the latest to reveal their plans.

JetBlue Announces Year-Round Service to Tulum

JetBlue will begin daily, year-round flights between New York’s JFK Airport and Tulum on June 23, 2024. The outbound flight will depart just before 8:00 a.m. for a midday arrival. The return service will leave at 12:45 p.m. and arrive just before 6:00 p.m.

“With picturesque beaches and vibrant cultural heritage, Tulum has proven to be a destination in demand by seamlessly blending ancient and modern, in a country that continues to lead with world-class hospitality,” David Jehn, Vice President of Network Planning and Airline Partnerships at JetBlue, said in a statement.

“With the new international airport in Tulum, we are able to bring our customers where they want to go, arriving and departing in a brand new, modern, and convenient airport facility while offering the great service and low fares JetBlue is known for,” Jehn continued.

A JetBlue Airbus A320 taxis in Los Angeles. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Notable about JetBlue’s announcement is that it is starting flights three months later than other US carriers, who plan to start flights in late March. Summertime is often considered the slow season for tourism in the area, whereas many travelers, especially those from cold regions farther north, visit during the winter months for relief from the cold.

JetBlue will operate to Tulum year-round, consistent with its focus on leisure destinations.

Air Canada is the First Canadian Carrier in Tulum

Air Canada also announced plans to serve Tulum on Thursday, becoming the first Canadian carrier to do so. The airline will begin flying to Tulum from both Toronto and Montreal on May 3, pending government approval.

Air Canada will fly to Tulum two days per week from Toronto and one day per week from Montreal, amounting to three weekly flights. The airline did not announce an equipment type for the new routes.

“We are excited to add two brand new destinations to our global network, Tulum, Mexico, from our Toronto and Montreal hubs, and Charleston, South Carolina from Toronto, plus new Austin and St. Louis flights from Montreal in summer 2024. These new destinations and routes reflect Air Canada’s market leadership and network diversification strategy of adding capacity to in-demand leisure destinations such as Tulum and fast-growing, key metropolitan areas in the US,” said Mark Galardo, Air Canada’s Executive Vice President of Revenue and Network Planning in a press release.

An Air Canada 737 MAX 8 at Paine Field in Everett, Wash. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

“We are also very pleased to grow our North American network from coast to coast with additional frequencies in key markets including Ottawa, Calgary, Saskatoon and Regina, in regional markets, and by resuming major seasonal routes earlier. By adding scale to our Canadian hubs, we are offering more travel choices and unparalleled access to and from our worldwide network. We look forward to welcoming our customers onboard,” Galardo continued.

Air Canada’s announcement was welcomed by Mexican officials, who identified Canada as a critical source of tourists in the region.

“I celebrate this great announcement from Air Canada. Without connectivity there is no tourism, and the two new routes to the new Tulum International Airport, which is ready to receive five million passengers, will boost the arrival of tourists from our second most important source market for international tourists,” stated Lic. Miguel Torruco Marqués, Secretario de Turismo, Mexico.

A Brief History of Tulum’s Airport

Plans to build an airport in Tulum have been in the works for over a decade; bidding for the construction contract began in 2011. The airport was built to address overcrowding at Cancún’s airport, which has reached its capacity. Tulum has long been a popular tourist destination, and a significant portion of traffic in Cancun consists of passengers continuing by car to Tulum.

Domestic operations in Tulum began earlier this month, and the airport plans to welcome international arrivals in March when some U.S. carriers start service.

John McDermott
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  • John McDermott

    John McDermott is a student at Northwestern University. He is also a student pilot with hopes of flying for the airlines. A self-proclaimed "avgeek," John will rave about aviation at length to whoever will listen, and he is keen to call out any airplane he sees, whether or not anyone around him cares about flying at all. John previously worked as a Journalist and Editor-In-Chief at Aeronautics Online Aviation News and Media. In his spare time, John enjoys running, photography, and watching planes approach Chicago O'Hare from over Lake Michigan.

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