Tulum's airline woes are piling up. Mexican budget carrier Volaris has confirmed it will end all flights to Tulum International Airport (Felipe Carrillo Puerto) from January 7, 2027, citing weak demand on the route plus rising airport fees and operating costs. The airline said it had reviewed route profitability and was temporarily suspending flights with lower load factors, and it plans to stop selling tickets for dates after that cut-off within days of the announcement.
It is the second blow in as many weeks. Aeromexico announced it would also stop serving Tulum, effective September 30, though it described its withdrawal as temporary and gave no date for a possible return. Between them, the two carriers have removed a major chunk of the airport's domestic connectivity: Volaris flew to Tulum from both Mexico City International (AICM) and the newer Felipe Angeles International (AIFA), and Aeromexico's network coverage disappears at the end of September.
The backdrop is a broader slump. Tulum, once one of Mexico's hottest destinations, has been struggling to rebuild occupancy after losing international appeal. Reports have blamed steep local prices, corruption issues and stiff competition from other beach destinations for the drop in visitor numbers. Losing airline seats makes the problem worse — fewer direct options mean higher fares and harder logistics for anyone still keen to visit, which in turn risks further suppressing demand.
For travellers, the practical impact is straightforward. Getting to Tulum is about to require more planning: after the cut-off dates, expect to route via Cancún International, roughly 100 kilometres to the north, then take a bus, shuttle or car hire down the Riviera Maya. That connection is well-served by airlines worldwide, so Tulum remains reachable — but the era of easy, cheap domestic hops from Mexico City to Tulum's own airport is shrinking, at least for now. Anyone holding tickets on affected routes after January 7, 2027 should watch for rebooking or refund options as Volaris works through the cancellations.
The story also matters if you have a trip planned in the shoulder period between Aeromexico's September 30 exit and Volaris's January withdrawal — seat availability on Tulum's remaining routes is likely to tighten and prices climb as capacity falls.
Bottom line: Tulum itself is not closed, but the air bridge to it is getting thinner. If Tulum is on your list for late 2026 or 2027, either lock in flights early or build a Cancún arrival into your plans.
