In 2023, Cancun International Airport solidified its position as Mexico’s primary destination for international flights, receiving 12.6 million out of the 34.9 million seats available on flights entering the country. This accounts for 36.1 percent of all seats on international flights to Mexico in the past year, marking Cancun as the foremost air terminal for international passenger traffic nationwide.
The airport with the second-highest number of seats was Mexico City International Airport (AICM), which accommodated 9.8 million seats, equivalent to 28.3 percent. Following are Guadalajara with 3 million seats (8 percent), Puerto Vallarta with 2.2 million (6.6 percent), and Monterrey with 1.2 million (3.6 percent).
Main international routes are from the U.S. and Canada
The significance of international tourism in Cancun is evident, as the Mexican Caribbean encompasses five of the top ten routes with the highest seat allocations in 2023. Notably, the Dallas-Cancun route ranks at the top, with Toronto-Cancun in third place, and Atlanta-Cancún, Houston-Cancún, and Chicago O’Hare-Cancún occupying the 8th, 9th, and 10th positions respectively, as reported by the Federal Tourism Secretariat.
Additionally, from December 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, the Mexican Caribbean is anticipated to offer 7 million scheduled seats, a figure that does not yet account for new flights from Tulum Airport.
For the upcoming winter season, approximately 36,000 flights, including both landings and takeoffs, are expected at the three international airports in Quintana Roo, according to data from Quintana Roo’s Tourist Promotion Council.
Cancun captured 41.8% of Mexico’s U.S. tourism
Regarding the arrival of international tourists by air to Mexico from January to October 2023, the United States, Canada, and Colombia were at the forefront, collectively bringing in a total of 13 million 460 thousand tourists, as per the data from the Office of Migration Policy of the Ministry of the Interior.
In the case of the U.S. market, Cancun was a prime destination, attracting 4.6 million out of the 11.02 million American tourists, which accounts for 41.8 percent of the total. For the Canadian market, which ranks second in terms of importance, Cancun received 1 million of the 1.8 million Canadian tourists, representing 55.5 percent.