Tulum International Airport

Tulum International Airport (Aeropuerto Internacional de Tulum; officially the Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport, Aeropuerto Internacional Felipe Carrillo Puerto; ) is an international airport situated approximately 20 km 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 125 km 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. 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. 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. However, the military's involvement in civilian functions, such as airport management and hotel operations, raises concerns about accountability and transparency.

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. In August 2023, Aeroméxico announced services to Mexico City, and Viva Aerobus announced flights to various Mexican cities. In October 2023, Delta Air Lines disclosed nonstop flights from Atlanta from March 2024. Subsequently, Spirit Airlines revealed plans to add flights from Orlando and Fort Lauderdale. 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. The airport began operations on December 1, 2023.

Facilities
Spanning 1200 ha at an elevation of 20 m above mean sea level, the airport features a passenger terminal and a 3700 m 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 70000 m2 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.