Cancún International Airport

Early operations

Cancún's initial airport was established in 1942 as a strategic move to support the region's primary industry at the time: the chewing gum. This early airport operated on a rudimentary runway, featuring a control tower constructed from wood and reeds that remained in operation until 1973. To commemorate its history, a replica stands near the city's entrance, close to its original location.^[4] A replica stands near the city's entrance, close to its original location, near what is now Kabah Avenue.^[5]

In the early 1970s, Cancun emerged as a major tourist destination following a deliberate effort by the Mexican government, in collaboration with the National Tourism Development Fund (Spanish: Fondo Nacional de Fomento al Turismo FONATUR). Recognizing its strategic location near pristine beaches, natural landscapes, and archaeological sites, the comprehensive plan aimed to transform Cancun from a sparsely inhabited area into a major international tourist destination. Substantial investments in infrastructure were made, including the construction of the new Cancun International Airport, designed and built by Henro y Asociados in collaboration with the Department of Infrastructure. The airport's inaugural commercial flight occurred on May 12, 1975, prompting an immediate increase in international traffic.

Throughout its history, Cancun Airport has served as a base for multiple carriers over the years. It served as a hub for Mexicana, Interjet, and Aladia in their operational years, facilitating both domestic and international connections. The defunct charter airline Aerocancun also provided charter flights to the United States, Canada, Europe, and South America. MAYAir, established in 1994 initially as a charter airline, expanded its routes from Cancun to various destinations in the Yucatán Peninsula.

Privatization and expansion

In 1995, Mexico embarked on a significant airport privatization initiative through the 'Ley de Aeropuertos' (Airports Law) introduced by the Department of Infrastructure. This marked a pivotal moment for Cancun Airport, integrating it into the Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste (ASUR).

Until the early 2000s, Cancun Airport operated with two terminals. A major transformation began in 2005 when ASUR invested US$150 million in constructing Terminal 3, officially inaugurated in 2007.^[6] Key additions, including a new runway and then Latin America's tallest control tower at 97 meters, were unveiled in October 2009, effectively doubling the airport's passenger handling capacity.^[7] On November 27, 2013, Cancun Airport achieved another milestone, becoming the first in Mexico to welcome the Airbus A380, commemorating the 80th anniversary of Air France and the 15th anniversary of ASUR.

The expansion continued with an expansion of Terminal 2 in 2014 and a significant 76,000 square metres (820,000 sq ft) expansion of Terminal 3 in 2016, introducing six gates and additional commercial areas.^[8] This expansion raised annual passenger capacity from 6 million to 10 million. In response to the overcrowding and surging demand, Terminal 4 was inaugurated in October 2017.

Despite challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, Mexican authorities kept borders open for tourism, making Cancún one of the few international destinations to remain accessible. In 2023, a Tren Maya station was inaugurated adjacent to the airport as part of a federal rail project.^[9][10] In parallel, ASUR initiated the second phase of Terminal 4's expansion, which includes new passenger areas, apron extensions, and a new supplementary 24 metres (79 ft) tall control tower. ASUR expects the expanded terminal to be fully operational by 2026.^[11] In early 2025, ASUR also began construction on a comprehensive revival of Terminal 1, which had remained closed since the mid-2010s.^[12]

Terminal 1 (temporarily closed)

Exclusively dedicated to charter and private flights, Terminal 1 features 7 gates numbered 1 to 7, 3 helicopter stands, and a VIP lounge. Temporarily closed for reconstruction after Hurricane Wilma, the terminal resumed operations between 2013 and 2018. The terminal is undergoing a comprehensive remodeling and expansion, with reopening planned for 2026.^[12]

Terminal 2

As the oldest terminal, Terminal 2 handles arrivals and departures for domestic and international flights. With 22 gates—A1 through A11 (in a satellite building) and B12 through B22 (at the main building)—it serves most domestic airlines, along with most international flights to Central and South America and select long-haul flights to Europe. The check-in area houses a bank and food outlets, while the boarding area features several restaurants and shops, along with immigration/customs services. Two lounges, the MERA Business Lounge and The Lounge by Global Lounge Network, cater to both domestic and international travelers.

The primary tenants at the terminal are Viva, which operates a hub at this location and Volaris, along with its subsidiaries Volaris Costa Rica and Volaris El Salvador operate a focus city. Other airlines serving Terminal 2 include Aerolíneas Argentinas, Alaska Airlines, Arajet, Avianca, Avianca El Salvador, Conviasa, Copa Airlines, GOL Linhas Aéreas, LATAM Chile, LATAM Perú, LOT Polish Airlines, Neos, Sky Airline Peru, TUI Airways, TUI fly Netherlands, TUI fly Belgium, and Wingo.

Terminal 3

Dedicated exclusively to international flights, Terminal 3 features 21 gates (C4 through C24) and is primarily used by major U.S., Canadian, and European airlines. Facilities include duty-free shops, cafés, restaurants, immigration and customs facilities, and the MERA Business Lounge. The ground transportation facility is located outside the arrivals hall.

Airlines operating from Terminal 3 include Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, Air Caraïbes, American Airlines, Avelo, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Iberojet, United Airlines, and World2Fly.

Terminal 4

Terminal 4 serves both domestic and international flights. Opened in October 2017, it made Cancún Airport the first in Mexico with four terminals. It features 14 gates and a capacity of 9 million passengers per year.^[14] It is currently being expanded. The terminal has three lounges: the MERA Business Lounge (domestic), MERA Business Lounge (international), and The Lounge in partnership with Air Transat.^[15]

Airlines operating from Terminal 4 include Aeroméxico, Air Europa, Air France, Air Transat, Condor, Discover Airlines, Edelweiss Air, Flair Airlines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue, KLM, Porter Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and WestJet.

FBO terminal

The FBO terminal caters to general aviation from Mexico, the United States, and Latin America. It is positioned south of the passenger terminal complex, near the main airport entrance. It offers various services, including ground support, fuel coordination, ground transportation, car rental, catering, and airport lounges. Additionally, the FBO accommodates scheduled flights operated by the Belizean airline Tropic Air.

Passenger

Destination maps

Cancún Mexico City Mexico City/AIFA Aguascalientes Chihuahua Ciudad Juárez Culiacán Guadalajara Hermosillo León/Del Bajío Mérida Mexicali Monterrey Morelia Oaxaca Puebla Puerto Vallarta Querétaro Reynosa Saltillo San José del Cabo San Luis Potosí Tampico Tijuana Toluca Torreón Tuxtla Gutiérrez Veracruz Villahermosa Domestic destinations from Cancún International Airport Red = Year-round destination Blue = Future destination Green = Seasonal destination Grey = Charter destination

Toronto-Pearson Vancouver Québec City Calgary Edmonton Montréal–Trudeau Winnipeg Halifax Ottawa Hamilton London Moncton Fredericton Kelowna Regina Saskatoon Victoria Charlottetown Canadian destinations from Cancún International Airport Red = Year-round destination Blue = Future destination Green = Seasonal destination Cyan = Future seasonal destination

Austin Charlotte Colorado Springs Chicago–O'Hare Dallas/ Fort Worth Los Angeles Miami New York–JFK Philadelphia Phoenix–Sky Harbor Portland Las Vegas San Francisco Seattle/Tacoma Boston Cincinnati Columbus Indianapolis Kansas City Nashville Raleigh/Durham St. Louis Atlanta Detroit Minneapolis–St. Paul Salt Lake City Baltimore Cleveland Denver Oklahoma City Orlando Houston–Intercontinental Tampa Fort Lauderdale Newark Chicago–Midway Houston–Hobby New Orleans McAllen San Antonio Milwaukee Pittsburgh Harlingen Washington–Dulles Memphis Charleston Norfolk Providence Tulsa US destinations from Cancún International Airport Red = Year-round destination Blue = Future destination Green = Seasonal destination Grey = Charter destination Cyan = Future seasonal destination

Cancún Camagüey Havana San Salvador San José Santo Domingo Punta Cana Panama City–Tocumen Guatemala City Belize City Central American and Caribbean destinations from Cancún International Airport Red = Year-round destination Blue = Future destination Green = Seasonal destination

Buenos Aires-Ezeiza Bogotá Medellín-JMC Caracas Brasília Santiago de Chile Lima South American destinations from Cancún International Airport Red = Year-round destination Blue = Future destination Green = Seasonal destination

Paris-Orly Madrid Paris-de Gaulle London-Gatwick Frankfurt Zurich Barcelona Lisbon Amsterdam Milan-Malpensa Rome-Fiumicino Verona Birmingham Manchester London-Heathrow Dublin Belfast Glasgow Newcastle Brussels Istanbul Katowice Warsaw Copenhagen Stockholm Oslo Cardiff European destinations from Cancún International Airport Red = Year-round destination Blue = Future destination Green = Seasonal destination Grey = Charter destination

Passengers

More information Year, Total passengers ...

Passenger statistics^[1]

Year	Total passengers	% change
1999	6,969,733	–
2000	7,745,317	11.1%
2001	7,639,021	1.4%
2002	7,717,144	1.0%
2003	8,683,950	12.5%
2004	10,010,526	15.3%
2005	9,301,240	7.1%
2006	9,728,149	4.6%
2007	11,340,027	16.6%
2008	12,646,451	11.5%
2009	11,174,908	11.6%
2010	12,439,266	11.3%
2011	13,022,481	4.7%
2012	14,463,435	11.1%
2013	15,962,162	10.4%
2014	17,455,353	9.4%
2015	19,596,485	12.3%
2016	21,415,795	9.3%
2017	23,601,509	10.2%
2018	25,202,016	6.8%
2019	25,481,989	1.1%
2020	12,259,148	51.89%
2021	22,318,467	82.1%
2022	30,342,961	36.0%
2023	32,750,411	7.9%
2024	30,411,520	7.1%
2025	29,345,538	3.5%

Close

Busiest routes

Notes

Local shuttles

Each terminal includes numbered shuttle platforms and adjacent snack kiosks. These facilities are serviced by various companies offering transportation to and from hotels, with most services offering online booking in advance.

Long-distance bus

ADO, the primary long-distance bus carrier in southeastern Mexico, serves various destinations, including Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Mérida (with stops at Altabrisa station and Paseo 60 station). It also connects with Cozumel and Chiquilá via coordinated bus and ferry services.

ADO buses stop at all terminals and travel directly to the ADO Bus stations in the specified towns without stopping at hotels or along the route. Coaches seat 44 passengers and include air conditioning and onboard screens.

At Terminal 4, ADO bus tickets are available at rates significantly higher than at other terminals—up to five times more as of 2023. Travelers may find lower fares by purchasing online or boarding at other terminals. The bus stop is located past the ground transportation facility.

Train

Cancún Airport railway station is located across Federal Highway 180 from Cancún International Airport. The station features nine platforms. It handles services along both the western route, connecting to destinations such as Chichén Itzá, Mérida, and Campeche, and the southern route, which includes stops at Tulum, Tulum Airport, and Chetumal Airport.^{[citation needed]} The Conexión Intermodal Tren Maya is a shuttle bus system linking the airport's four terminals to the railway station.^[193]