Tulum International Airport Explained

Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport
Nativename:Spanish; Castilian: {{small|Aeropuerto Internacional Felipe Carrillo Puerto
Iata:TQO
Icao:MMTL
Pushpin Map:Mexico Quintana Roo#Mexico
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of airport in Quintana Roo
Pushpin Label:TQO
Pushpin Label Position:left
Type:Public
Operator:Grupo Olmeca-Maya-Mexica
City-Served:Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Location:Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Elevation-M:20
Metric-Elev:y
Metric-Rwy:y
R1-Number:12/30
R1-Length-M:3,700
R1-Surface:Concrete
Stat-Year:2023
Stat1-Header:Total passengers
Stat1-Data:39,768
Stat2-Header:Ranking in Mexico
Stat2-Data:52nd
Footnotes:Source: Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil[1]
Timezone:EST

Tulum International Airport (Spanish; Castilian: Aeropuerto Internacional de Tulum; officially the Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport, Spanish; Castilian: label=none|Aeropuerto Internacional Felipe Carrillo Puerto;) is an international airport situated approximately southwest of Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico. It serves both national and international air traffic for Tulum, functioning as a secondary gateway for tourists visiting the Mexican Caribbean, the Riviera Maya, and the Yucatán Peninsula. It also supports various executive and general aviation activities. The primary airport in the region is Cancún International Airport, situated approximately north of Tulum.

After commencing construction in 2022, the airport began commercial services on December 1, 2023 operated by Grupo Olmeca-Maya-Mexica, a holding company owned by the Mexican military. It handled 39,768 passengers on its first month of operations.

History

Tulum, a well-known tourist destination, has traditionally relied on Cancun Airport as its primary gateway. Efforts have been ongoing to reduce Cancun's dominance and establish alternative entry points to this tourist zone, with Cozumel Airport emerging as a successful secondary option. In the 2000s, Chichen Itza International Airport was constructed to facilitate access to the central Yucatan region, but financial viability concerns led to its closure shortly after its establishment.

The concept of a Tulum civil airport has been on the horizon for years. It reached a stage of development where, by 2011, bidding for construction contracts was set to conclude.[2] However, the project encountered challenges, leading to a standstill. Following Andrés Manuel López Obrador's inauguration as Mexican president in 2018, political backing for the Tulum Airport further diminished due to an increased emphasis on the Tren Maya project.[3] However, the project regained momentum in 2022 when it was announced by the López Obrador administration as part of efforts to boost tourism, particularly in conjunction with the Tren Maya.

Tulum Airport, constructed and operated by the Mexican army, is part of the broader strategy of the López Obrador administration to engage the armed forces in significant infrastructure projects. This trend of militarization extends to other projects, including the takeover of multiple airports, the Tren Maya, and the revival of Mexicana.[4] However, the military's involvement in civilian functions, such as airport management and hotel operations, raises concerns about accountability and transparency.[5]

Construction commenced in 2022, initially scheduled to open in April 2024. Following the announcement, major Mexican and U.S. carriers revealed services from their hubs.[6] In August 2023, Aeroméxico announced services to Mexico City, and Viva Aerobus announced flights to various Mexican cities.[7] In October 2023, Delta Air Lines disclosed nonstop flights from Atlanta from March 2024.[8] Subsequently, Spirit Airlines revealed plans to add flights from Orlando and Fort Lauderdale.[9] In November 2023, American Airlines announced flights to Charlotte, Miami, and Dallas/Fort Worth, followed by United Airlines unveiling services to Houston, Chicago, Newark, Los Angeles and Denver.[10] [11] The airport began operations on December 1, 2023.[12]

Facilities

Spanning at an elevation of above mean sea level, the airport features a passenger terminal and a runway capable of accommodating wide-body aircraft and handling 5.5 million passengers annually. The apron comprises 13 aircraft stands primarily used by narrow-body aircraft, complemented by hardstands serving general aviation.

The passenger terminal provides standard international airport services in a two-story building separating departure facilities on the top floor and arrivals on the ground floor. It features check-in areas, a security checkpoint, arrivals facilities with baggage claim areas, taxi stands, and car rental services. The departures concourse houses commercial spaces and 13 gates with ramps down to the apron level, allowing passengers to board their planes by walking to the aircraft.

In addition, the airport hosts an Executive Aviation Terminal, equipped with airport lounges and dedicated facilities for general aviation. Future plans involve the construction of an air force base within the airport grounds. A station for the Tren Maya is currently under construction on the airport premises, aiming to establish connections with Tulum, Cancun International Airport, Chetumal Airport, and other prominent tourist destinations in southeastern Mexico.[13]

Airlines and destinations

Destination maps

Statistics

Busiest routes

Busiest routes from Tulum International Airport (2023)[14]
RankCityPassengersRankingAirline
1, Mexico City9,760Aeroméxico Connect
2, Mexico City-AIFA3,660Viva Aerobus
3, Monterrey3,052Viva Aerobus
4, Tijuana1,083Viva Aerobus
5, Guadalajara956Viva Aerobus

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Estadística Operacional de Aeropuertos / Statistics by Airport. Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil. January 26, 2024.
  2. Web site: Avanza Tulum Hacia Su Transformación: González Canto . 18 September 2009 . Blog Gubernamental . Gobierno del Estado de Quintana Roo . Spanish . https://web.archive.org/web/20091202075607/http://www.qroo.gob.mx/Blog/blog1.php/2009/09/18/avanza-tulum-hacia-su-transformacion-gon . 2 December 2009 .
  3. News: March 10, 2014 . Pone en marcha SCT proyecto de tren transpeninsular en Quintana Roo . Imagen Radio . Spanish . 12 October 2019 .
  4. Web site: Mexican government gives military control of four more airports . .
  5. Web site: Mexico's military is reviving one of its oldest airlines . .
  6. Web site: October 7, 2020 . Tulum will get a new luxury airport in 2023 . Forbes (EE.UU.).
  7. Web site: New Nonstop Flights Announced To Tulum From These U.S. Cities. The Cancun Sun. August 29, 2023.
  8. Web site: 2023-10-16 . Delta Air Lines to Fly Direct to Tulum When New International Airport Opens . 2023-10-16 . www.travelmarketreport.com . en.
  9. Web site: Paradise is Calling: U.S. Travelers Gain Daily, Low-Fare Flights to Tulum's New Airport with Spirit Airlines . 2023-10-27 . ir.spirit.com . en-US.
  10. Web site: Tokyo to Tulum: American Airlines unveils new international routes to enhance 2024 travels .
  11. Web site: United Airlines starting with 22 weekly U.S. flights into Tulum International . 24 November 2023 .
  12. News: Tulum's New Airport Has a Long Way to Go, But It Sure Is a Looker. December 22, 2023. Carlos Rosado van der Gracht. Yucatán Magazine.
  13. Web site: Cancun Airport's Link to Maya Train: Construction Set to Start Soon . 12 June 2023 .
  14. Web site: Estadística operacional por origen-destino / Traffic Statistics by City Pairs. Spanish . Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil . January 2024 . February 1, 2024.