United Airlines Becomes The Latest US Carrier To Announce Flights To Mexico's New Tulum International Airport

Services will launch in March, with United Airlines bulking up its Cancun schedule through the winter travel season.

US legacy carrier United Airlines might just have your winter travel plans covered. From 2024, the airline will bulk up capacity to a range of destinations across the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and Mexico.

A Mexican excursion

Launching on March 31, just in time for a much-needed break from that late winter/early spring chill, United Airlines will add direct services to Mexico’s new Tulum International Airport (TQO) from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD). Located on the idyllic Yucatán Peninsula, the airport serves as a gateway to popular resorts, including Cancún and Playa del Carmen, as well as pre-Columbian heritage sites such as the Mayan Chichén Itzá.

In a statement shared by United Airlines, Senior Vice President of Network Planning and Alliances Patrick Quayle explained the airline’s decision for its southerly expansion, adding, "Tulum is at the top of a lot of travel lists – great beaches and restaurants, and a region featuring a rich history and spectacular natural beauty. Our new direct flights help people get there faster than ever, giving them even more time to enjoy one of Mexico's most unique destinations."

The carrier currently operates direct services to Cancun International Airport (CUN) and Cozumel International Airport (CZM); however, the soon-to-open Tulum Airport is set to provide enhanced connectivity for tourists hoping to explore the Riviera Maya region.

Can’t wait until March? Through the winter travel season, United Airlines will offer over 200 weekly departures between eight of its US and Cancun, utilizing its Boeing 777 jets on certain services to meet demand for the popular destination. Flights to Cozumel will run 11 times a week from Chicago, Houston, and Denver International Airport (DEN).

American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Spirit Airlines are also gearing up to launch operations at the new airport. Services are scheduled to launch on December 1, with Viva Aerobus and Aeromexico to be among the first airlines to inaugurate Tulum Airport.

Alongside services to Mexico, United Airlines has announced it will bolster capacity on routes into Latin America and the Caribbean by up to 25% through the winter travel season. The capacity growth will cement United Airlines’ place as the largest US airline in Central America, with destinations including San José’s Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) and Liberia International Airport (LIR) in Costa Rica, El Salvador International Airport (SAL), Belize City’s Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE), and La Aurora International Airport (GUA) in Guatemala City

Latin America has proven an incredibly trendy destination for North American tourists; in May, the Latin American & Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) confirmed that the region had exceeded its pre-pandemic traffic numbers, posting 0.6% passenger growth between 2019 and 2023. Mexico, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic were the largest passenger markets, recording three-year growth of 21%, 14%, and 109%, respectively. The region is also expected to exceed its pre-pandemic financial levels by the end of 2023. As reported by Travel Pulse, tourism in Latin America is predicted to contribute around $319.5 billion to the regional economy this year, a 1.2% increase on 2019's figures.

BY MOLLY RUSSELL