Tulum Airport Sees Route Cuts; Delta Cancels Two Flights

Delta Air Lines has canceled two seasonal routes to Tulum International Airport,  joining a growing list of international carriers scaling back operations at the airport less than two years after its opening.

The Atlanta-based airline removed planned connections from Detroit and Minneapolis but will maintain its Atlanta–Tulum route with six weekly flights. In a statement, Delta said, “We routinely adjust our network to better match demand. For customers affected by this schedule change, we are working to rebook them on alternate itineraries. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.”

Delta’s move follows similar actions by United, American Airlines, Air Canada, Copa Airlines, Avianca, and Discover Airlines, all of which have either suspended planned routes or cut existing services to Tulum. United Airlines initially planned flights from Denver and Chicago O’Hare but did not launch either route, maintaining only Newark and Houston connections.

Air Canada canceled planned winter-season flights from Ottawa and Quebec for the 2025–26 season due to low demand. “It is no secret that the industry added too much capacity to Tulum, and now some airlines are rationalizing. We are reducing service there and focusing more on Cancún, which works well for us,” said Mark Galardo, Air Canada’s chief commercial officer.

Copa Airlines suspended its Tulum–Panama route due to aircraft delivery delays. “There is no confirmed return date,” said Mauro Arredondo, general manager, Copa Airlines in Mexico. The airline continues to operate up to six daily flights to Cancun.

Discover Airlines, Lufthansa’s low-cost subsidiary, shifted its winter service from Tulum to Cancún. “The Tulum airport has a lot of potential, but it always comes down to a combination of factors. For now, we are focusing on Cancun,” a spokesperson told Spanish outlet Tourinews.

Avianca canceled its Bogotá–Tulum route in July, just seven months after launching it in December 2024, while American Airlines suspended its Charlotte–Tulum route in February 2025.

Challenges for the airport include limited ground transport options and long travel times due to the absence of a bypass road around Tulum. Some German tour operators reported strong demand, while others cited slower uptake, according to German tourism platform Touristik Aktuell.

Tulum International Airport reported 3,514 international operations between January and July 2025, compared with 5,026 for all of 2024.