Tulum airport due to open before the end of 2024

Credit: BMA Estudio

Tulum, the famous paradise town in the Mexican Caribbean, is about to embark on an ambitious project: the construction of a brand new international airport. This initiative, one of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s mega-projects, is designed to respond to population growth and the growing flow of tourists to the region. Indeed, Tulum has become one of the most popular destinations, attracting thousands of visitors every year. With flight operations scheduled to begin before the end of 2024, work is progressing at a steady pace.

Credit: Sedena

The new Tulum airport will benefit from an investment of more than 185 million US dollars, and will have a capacity of 5.5 million passengers per year, with up to 32,000 flight operations per year. It will thus become the second busiest airport on the Yucatán peninsula, just after Cancún airport. In addition to its role as an air terminal, the project also includes a military base to enhance airspace security, and will help fight forest fires in the region.

Tulum’s population over the last two decades has grown from less than 7,000 to more than 47,000 today, reflecting the growing popularity of the destination. The new airport is also intended to relieve the pressure on Cancún airport, which is already saturated, handling an average of 550 national and international flights every day!

The Tulum airport, with its modern design and state-of-the-art facilities, will be classified as Category 4 ECO, the highest in terms of capacity and operational efficiency, while complying with strict environmental standards. It will have a 3,700-metre runway, a Category 1 instrument landing system and state-of-the-art navigation technology. The air terminal will be able to accommodate up to 13 commercial aircraft simultaneously, and will also have a site dedicated to general aviation and another for business aviation. It will also be linked to the motorway and benefit from a connection with the Tren Maya megaproject, offering optimum accessibility for travellers.