PhotosLocation


Cancún_International_Airport Latitude and Longitude:

21°02′12″N 86°52′37″W / 21.03667°N 86.87694°W / 21.03667; -86.87694
Page semi-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cancun International Airport

Aeropuerto Internacional de Cancún
Summary
Airport typePublic
Operator Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste
Serves Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Location Benito Juárez, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Opened1975
Hub for Viva Aerobus
Focus city for Volaris
Magnicharters
Time zone EST ( UTC-05:00)
Elevation  AMSL6 m / 20 ft
Coordinates 21°02′12″N 86°52′37″W / 21.03667°N 86.87694°W / 21.03667; -86.87694
Website www.asur.com.mx
Map
CUN is located in Quintana Roo
CUN
CUN
Location of the airport in Quintana Roo
CUN is located in Mexico
CUN
CUN
CUN (Mexico)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
12R/30L 3,500 11,483 Asphalt
12L/30R 2,800 9,186 Asphalt
Statistics (2023)
Total passengers32,750,411
International passengers20,908,196
Ranking in Mexico2nd Steady
Source: Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste [1]

Cancún International Airport ( Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional de Cancún) ( IATA: CUN, ICAO: MMUN) serves as the primary gateway for the Cancún Metropolitan Area in Quintana Roo, the Mexican Caribbean, Riviera Maya, and Yucatán Peninsula. Operating as a hub for Viva Aerobus and a focus city for Volaris and Magnicharters, it facilitates flights to over 100 cities across 30 countries in the Americas and Europe. The airport is managed by Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste (ASUR) and is the easternmost airport in Mexico.

It is the largest airport in Mexico and Latin America in terms of international passengers, representing 35% of all international passengers in the country. Cancun Airport is a major destination served by most U.S. and Canadian mainline airlines from all their hubs and focus cities, making it the airport outside the United States with the highest number of passengers to and from the United States. [2]

Ranked as the 43rd busiest airport in the world, Cancun Airport is Mexico's second busiest, following Mexico City International Airport. [3] Regionally, it stands as Latin America's fourth busiest and North America's 24th busiest airport as of 2023. In 2022, it handled 30,342,961 passengers, increasing to 32,750,411 passengers in 2023. [1]

In addition to its commercial operations, Cancun Airport supports various activities in general and executive aviation, flight training, and intensive air charter services. Cozumel and Tulum international airports serve as alternative options in the Cancun area, contributing to the region's overall aviation infrastructure.

History

Early operations

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

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 world-class tourist hub. Substantial investments in infrastructure were made, including the construction of the new Cancun International Airport, executed by Henro y Asociados in collaboration with the Department of Infrastructure. The airport's inaugural commercial flight occurred on May 12, 1975, drawing swift attention from international tourists.

Throughout its history, Cancun Airport has hosted a variety of airlines. It served as a hub for Mexicana, Interjet, and Aladia in their operational years, facilitating connections for both domestic and international flights. Additionally, the defunct charter airline Aerocancun, based in Cancun, provided flights to U.S., Canadian, European, and South American destinations. MAYAir, established in 1994 initially as a charter airline, expanded its routes from Cancun to various destinations in the Yucatan Peninsula.

Privatization and expansion

Terminal 3 airside

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. [5] Key additions, including a new runway and Latin America's tallest control tower at 97 meters, were unveiled in October 2009, effectively doubling the airport's passenger handling capacity. [6] 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 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. [7] This expansion aimed at accommodating the growing annual capacity, increasing it to 10 million from the previous 6 million. Responding to overcrowding and surging demand, Terminal 4 was inaugurated in October 2017.

Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Mexican authorities maintained open borders for tourism, positioning Cancun as one of the select international destinations to welcome visitors.

Facilities

US Airways Airbus A330 at CUN

The airport is located in the Cancun urban area, less than 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) southwest of the tourist complex, at an elevation of 6 metres (20 ft) above sea level. It features two runways: Runway 12R/30L, measuring 3,500 metres (11,500 ft) in length, and Runway 12L/30R, spanning 2,800 metres (9,200 ft). With the capability to accommodate large aircraft such as Boeing 747s and Airbus A380s, the airport boasts two parallel operative runways that can be used simultaneously. Cancun Airport is the easternmost airport in Mexico.

Cancun Airport comprises three terminals dedicated to scheduled flights (Terminals 2, 3, and 4), one terminal specifically for charter flights (Terminal 1), and an FBO terminal. This makes it the airport with the highest number of passenger terminals in Mexico. Beyond the terminals, the airport offers long-term and short-term parking facilities, on-site hotels, a variety of restaurants, and rental car services. It also accommodates facilities for the Mexican Airspace Navigation Services ( Spanish: Servicios a la Navegación en el Espacio Aéreo Mexicano). The airport also accommodates a terminus train station for the Maya Train, connecting to various tourist destinations and airports in southeastern Mexico. [8]

Terminals

Terminal 2 entrance

Terminal 1 (only charter)

Exclusively dedicated to charter or private flights, Terminal 1 features 7 gates numbered 1 to 7, 3 helicopter stands, and a VIP lounge, offering comprehensive services for private air travel. Temporarily closed for reconstruction after Hurricane Wilma, the terminal resumed operations exclusively for charter flights upon reopening in November 2013.

Terminal 2

Terminal 2 map
Terminal 2 satellite building

As the oldest terminal, Terminal 2 accommodates both arrival and departure services 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 all 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 domestic and international travellers.

The primary tenants at the terminal are Viva Aerobus, which operates a hub at this location, and Magnicharters and Volaris, operating a focus city services along with Volaris Costa Rica and Volaris El Salvador. Other airlines serving Terminal 1 include Aerolíneas Argentinas, Alaska Airlines, Arajet, Avianca, Avianca Costa Rica, Avianca Ecuador, Avianca El Salvador, Conviasa, Copa Airlines, LATAM Brasil, LATAM Chile, LATAM Perú, LOT Polish Airlines, Neos, Sky Airline Peru, Sunwing Airlines, TAG Airlines, TUI Airways, TUI fly Netherlands, TUI fly Belgium, and Wingo.

Terminal 3

Terminal 3 map
Terminal 3 main hall

Dedicated exclusively to international flights, Terminal 3 features 21 gates (C4 through C24). Primarily utilized by major US carriers, along with select Canadian and European carriers, the terminal provides amenities such as shops, including duty-free options, cafés, restaurants, as well as immigration and customs facilities. Terminal 3 is home to the MERA Business Lounge. The ground transportation facility is situated outside the arrivals hall.

The airlines flying to Terminal 3 are Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, Air Caraïbes, American Airlines, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Iberojet, Spirit Airlines, United Airlines, Wamos Air, and World2fly.

Terminal 4

Terminal 4 departures concourse

Terminal 4 serves both domestic and international flights. It opened in October 2017, making Cancún Airport the first airport in Mexico to have four terminals. It features 14 gates equipped with jetbridges and is able to handle 9 million passengers a year. [9] An on-site hotel is also planned to be opened, as well as a parking structure. Three lounges serve Terminal 4. They are the MERA Business Lounge (national), MERA Business Lounge (international), and The Lounge in Partnership with Air Transat. [10]

At Terminal 4, ADO bus tickets are available for a price approximately five times higher than the standard rate. It is advisable to either purchase the ticket online or consider walking to Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 to potentially save around 400 Mexican pesos (M$110) or 25 US dollars (USD 25) as of 2023. The bus stop is located past the ground transportation facility.

The airlines flying to Terminal 4 are Aeroméxico, Air Europa, Air France, Air Transat, Austrian Airlines, Condor, Discover Airlines, Edelweiss Air, Flair Airlines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines, and WestJet.

FBO terminal

The FBO terminal caters to general aviation from Mexico, the United States, and Latin America. Positioned to the south of the passenger terminal complex, near the main airport entrance, it offers an array of services including ground support, fuel coordination, ground transportation, car rental, catering, and airport lounges. Additionally, the FBO accommodates commercial services from the Belizean airline Tropic Air.

Inter-terminal transportation

Terminal-to-terminal transportation is facilitated by an inter-terminal shuttle, with buses departing from each terminal every 10 minutes.

Airlines and destinations

Two American Airlines Boeing B737 at CUN

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
Aerolíneas Argentinas Buenos Aires–Ezeiza
Aeroméxico Mexico City, Mexico City–AIFA
Air Canada Toronto–Pearson, Vancouver
Seasonal: Edmonton, Montréal–Trudeau, Winnipeg
Air Canada Rouge Montréal–Trudeau
Seasonal: Halifax, Ottawa
Air Caraïbes Paris–Orly
Air Europa Madrid
Air France Paris–Charles de Gaulle
Air Transat Montréal–Trudeau, Québec City, Toronto–Pearson
Seasonal: Halifax, Hamilton (ON), London (ON), Moncton, Ottawa
Alaska Airlines Seasonal: Los Angeles, Portland (OR), San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle/Tacoma
American Airlines Austin, Charlotte, Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York–JFK, Philadelphia, Phoenix–Sky Harbor
Seasonal: Boston, Cincinnati, Columbus–Glenn, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Nashville, Pittsburgh, Raleigh/Durham, St. Louis
Arajet Santo Domingo–Las Américas
Austrian Airlines Seasonal: Vienna
Avianca Bogotá, Medellín–JMC
Avianca Costa Rica San José (CR)
Avianca El Salvador San Salvador
British Airways London–Gatwick
Canada Jetlines Toronto–Pearson
Condor Frankfurt
Conviasa Caracas
Copa Airlines Panama City–Tocumen
Delta Air Lines Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York–JFK, Salt Lake City, Seattle/Tacoma
Seasonal: Cincinnati, [11] Raleigh/Durham [12]
Discover Airlines Seasonal: Frankfurt
Edelweiss Air Zürich
Flair Airlines Kitchener/Waterloo, Toronto–Pearson
Seasonal: Calgary, [13] Edmonton, London (ON), [14] Montréal–Trudeau, Ottawa, Vancouver, Windsor, Winnipeg [14]
Frontier Airlines Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago–O'Hare, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Orlando, Philadelphia, St. Louis
Seasonal: Chicago–Midway, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Houston–Intercontinental, Kansas City, Miami, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Tampa
Iberojet Madrid
Seasonal: Barcelona, Lisbon
JetBlue Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, Newark, New York–JFK, Orlando, Raleigh/Durham, Tampa
Seasonal: Las Vegas, San Francisco
KLM Seasonal: Amsterdam
LATAM Brasil São Paulo–Guarulhos
LATAM Chile Santiago de Chile
LATAM Perú Lima
LOT Polish Airlines Charter: Katowice, Poznań
Seasonal charter: Warsaw–Chopin
Lufthansa Frankfurt
Magnicharters Guadalajara, León/El Bajío, Mexico City, Monterrey
Seasonal charter: Aguascalientes, Chihuahua, Mérida, Nuevo Laredo, Puebla, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí
Neos Milan–Malpensa, Rome–Fiumicino, Verona
Sky Airline Peru Lima
Southwest Airlines Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago–Midway, Chicago–O'Hare, Denver, Fort Lauderdale (ends June 3, 2024), [15] Houston–Hobby, Indianapolis, Kansas City, New Orleans, Orlando (begins June 4, 2024), [15] Phoenix–Sky Harbor, St. Louis
Seasonal: Austin, Columbus–Glenn, Milwaukee, Nashville, Pittsburgh, San Antonio
Spirit Airlines Austin, Baltimore, Chicago–O'Hare, Cleveland, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Houston–Intercontinental, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St. Louis
Seasonal: Atlantic City
Sun Country Airlines Minneapolis/St. Paul
Seasonal: Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Harlingen, Houston–Intercontinental, Milwaukee, San Antonio
Sunwing Airlines Calgary, Edmonton, Montréal–Trudeau, Québec City, Toronto–Pearson, Vancouver
Seasonal: Bagotville, Fredericton, Halifax, Hamilton (ON), Kelowna, London (ON), Moncton, Ottawa, Regina, Saskatoon, St. John's, Thunder Bay, Windsor, Winnipeg
TAP Air Portugal Seasonal: Lisbon
Tropic Air Belize City
TUI Airways Birmingham (UK), London–Gatwick, Manchester
Seasonal: Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle upon Tyne
Seasonal charter: Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Helsinki, Stockholm–Arlanda, Oslo
TUI fly Belgium Brussels 1
TUI fly Netherlands Amsterdam
Turkish Airlines Istanbul 2
United Airlines Chicago–O'Hare, Cleveland, Denver, Houston–Intercontinental, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, Washington–Dulles
Viva Aerobus Acapulco, Bogotá, Camagüey, Chihuahua, Ciudad Juárez, Culiacán, Guadalajara, Havana, Holguín, León/El Bajío, Mexico City, Mexico City–AIFA, Monterrey, Puebla, Querétaro, Reynosa, San José del Cabo, Santa Clara, Tampico, Tijuana, Toluca/Mexico City, Torreón/Gómez Palacio, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Veracruz, Villahermosa
Seasonal: Cincinnati
Volaris Aguascalientes, Chihuahua, Ciudad Juárez, Culiacán, Guadalajara, Guatemala City, Hermosillo, León/El Bajío, Lima, McAllen (begins July 3, 2024), [16] Mexicali, Mexico City, Mexico City–AIFA, Monterrey, Morelia, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, San José (CR), San Luis Potosí, Tijuana, Toluca/Mexico City, Tuxtla Gutiérrez
Seasonal charter: Atlanta, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Memphis
Volaris Costa Rica San José (CR)
Volaris El Salvador San Salvador
Wamos Air Madrid
WestJet Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto–Pearson, Vancouver
Seasonal: Halifax, Hamilton (ON), Kelowna, Ottawa, Regina, Saskatoon, Victoria, Winnipeg
Wingo Bogotá, Medellín–JMC
World2Fly Madrid
Charter: Lisbon
Notes

^1 TUI fly Belgium's flight from Brussels to Cancún makes a stop in Havana; however, the airline does not have traffic rights from Havana to Cancún.

^2 Turkish Airlines's flight from Istanbul to Cancún makes a stop in Mexico City; however, the airline does not have local traffic rights from Mexico City to Cancún.

Cargo

AirlinesDestinations
Amerijet International Belize City, Ciudad del Carmen, Mérida, Miami
Estafeta Carga Aérea Mérida, Miami
FedEx Express Mérida, Miami

Destination maps

Canadian destinations from Cancún International Airport
Red = Year-round destination
Blue = Future destination
Green = Seasonal destination
Central American and Caribbean destinations from Cancún International Airport
Red = Year-round destination
Blue = Future destination
Green = Seasonal destination
South American destinations from Cancún International Airport
Red = Year-round destination
Blue = Future destination
Green = Seasonal destination
European destinations from Cancún International Airport
Red = Year-round destination
Blue = Future destination
Green = Seasonal destination
Grey = Charter destination

Traffic statistics

United Airlines Boeing 737-924ER N66814 at CUN. FBO Terminal in the background

Passengers

Cancún Airport passengers. See Wikidata query.
Passenger statistics [1]
Year Total passengers % change
1999 6,969,733
2000 7,745,317 Increase 11.1%
2001 7,639,021 Decrease 1.4%
2002 7,717,144 Increase 1.0%
2003 8,683,950 Increase 12.5%
2004 10,010,526 Increase 15.3%
2005 9,301,240 Decrease 7.1%
2006 9,728,149 Increase 4.6%
2007 11,340,027 Increase 16.6%
2008 12,646,451 Increase 11.5%
2009 11,174,908 Decrease 11.6%
2010 12,439,266 Increase 11.3%
2011 13,022,481 Increase 4.7%
2012 14,463,435 Increase 11.1%
2013 15,962,162 Increase 10.4%
2014 17,455,353 Increase 9.4%
2015 19,596,485 Increase 12.3%
2016 21,415,795 Increase 9.3%
2017 23,601,509 Increase 10.2%
2018 25,202,016 Increase 6.8%
2019 25,481,989 Increase 1.1%
2020 12,259,148 Decrease 51.89%
2021 22,318,467 Increase 82.1%
2022 30,342,961 Increase 36.0%
2023 32,750,411 Increase 7.9%

Busiest routes

Interjet Airbus A320 and Aeromexico Boeing B737 at CUN
Magnicharters Boeing 737-222; XA-SYX at CUN
Busiest domestic routes from Cancún International Airport (2023) [17]
Rank City Passengers YoY % change Ranking Airlines
1   Mexico City, Mexico City 2,209,042 Decrease 10.16% Steady Aeroméxico, Aeroméxico Connect, Magnicharters, Viva Aerobus, Volaris
2   Nuevo León, Monterrey 929,327 Increase 9.84% Steady Magnicharters, Viva Aerobus, Volaris
3   Jalisco, Guadalajara 558,871 Increase 5.82% Steady Magnicharters, Viva Aerobus, Volaris
4   State of Mexico, Mexico City – AIFA 356,765 Increase 193.26% Increase 3 Aeroméxico, Viva Aerobus, Volaris
5   Baja California, Tijuana 307,857 Increase 24.78% Decrease 1 Viva Aerobus, Volaris
6   State of Mexico, Toluca 223,511 Increase 170.25% Increase 7 Viva Aerobus, Volaris
7   Guanajuato, León/El Bajío 215,882 Increase 32.44% Decrease 2 Magnicharters, Viva Aerobus, Volaris
8   Puebla, Puebla 173,349 Increase 11.27% Decrease 2 Magnicharters, Viva Aerobus, Volaris
9   Querétaro, Querétaro 157,745 Increase 39.56% Steady Magnicharters, Viva Aerobus, Volaris
10   Chihuahua, Ciudad Juárez 145,445 Increase 17.24% Steady Viva Aerobus,
11   Chiapas, Tuxtla Gutiérrez 122,374 Increase 35.24% Steady Viva Aerobus
12   Veracruz, Veracruz 116,235 Increase 3.28% Decrease 1 Viva Aerobus
13   Chihuahua, Chihuahua 106,877 Increase 24.36% Decrease 1 Magni, Viva Aerobus, Volaris
14   Baja California, Mexicali 53,873 Decrease 0.79% Increase 2 Volaris
15   San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí 52,928 Decrease 11.68% Decrease 1 Volaris
16   Tabasco, Villahermosa 48,357 Increase 21.04% Increase 2 Viva Aerobus
17   Oaxaca, Oaxaca 42,002 Increase 40.02% Increase 2 Volaris
18   Tamaulipas, Reynosa 41,305 Decrease 2.95% Decrease 1 Viva Aerobus
19   Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes 39,724 Decrease 27.65% Decrease 4 Volaris
20   Michoacán, Morelia 25,640 Increase 26.30% Increase 1 Volaris
Delta Boeing B757 at CUN
Cubana Ilyushin Il-62M at CUN
Busiest international routes from Cancún International Airport (2023) [17]
Rank City Passengers YoY % change Ranking Airlines
1   United States, Dallas/Fort Worth 579,645 Decrease 4.69% Steady American Airlines, Spirit, Sun Country
2   United States, Houston ( Intercontinental and Hobby) [a] 567,815 Increase1.04% Steady Frontier, Southwest, Spirit, Sun Country, United Airlines
3   United States, Chicago ( O'Hare and Midway) [b] 502,908 Increase 1.15% Steady American Airlines, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit, United Airlines
4   United States, Atlanta 441,838 Increase 16.26% Steady Delta Air Lines, Frontier
5   Canada, Toronto-Pearson 392,149 Increase 43.70% Increase 5 Air Canada, Air Transat, Canada Jetlines, Flair Air, Sunwing Airlines, WestJet
6   United States, New York-JFK 358,698 Increase 4.74% Steady American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue
7   Panama, Panama City–Tocumen 331,109 Decrease 6.86% Decrease 2 Copa Airlines
8   United States, Denver 319,065 Increase 0.51% Steady Frontier, Southwest, United Airlines
9   United States, Los Angeles 315,782 Increase 11.37% Steady Alaska, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, United Airlines
10   United States, Miami 282,558 Decrease 12.26% Decrease 1 American Airlines
11   Colombia, Bogotá 246,351 Increase 1.44% Decrease 1 Avianca, Viva Aerobus, Volaris, Wingo
12   United States, Newark 241,310 Increase 3.58% Increase 1 Jet Blue, United Airlines
13   United States, Charlotte 238,623 Increase 8.31% Increase 1 American Airlines
14   Peru, Lima 235,127 Increase 30.82% Increase 4 LATAM Perú, Sky Airlines Perú, Volaris
15   United States, Philadelphia 230,757 Increase 9.91% Steady American Airlines, Frontier, Spirit
16   United States, Fort Lauderdale 225,282 Decrease 6.76% Decrease 4 JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit
17   Canada, Montréal-Trudeau 215,471 Increase 57.21% Increase 7 Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, Air Transat, Flair Air, Sunwing Airlines
18   United States, Baltimore 204,421 Increase 21.27% Increase 2 Frontier, Southwest, Spirit
19   United States, Orlando 193,548 Increase 1.58% Decrease 2 Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit
20   United States, Minneapolis/St. Paul 192,681 Increase 7.67% Decrease 1 Delta, Frontier, Sun Country
Notes
  1. ^ The official statistics combine both George Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports.
  2. ^ The official statistics combine both O'Hare and Midway airports.

Ground transportation

Terminal 4 airside

The primary mode of transportation to and from the airport is by road. Travelers to Cancun often arrange ground transportation in advance due to its convenience. Official airport taxis, known for their higher costs, are generally discouraged, and local taxis are not permitted for pickups at the airport. Large short- and long-term parking facilities are available at all terminals.

Local shuttles

Air Margaritaville bar stand at the ground transportation facility, Terminal 3

Each terminal features extensive ground transportation facilities with numbered boarding platforms and nearby snack stands. These facilities are serviced by various companies offering transportation to and from hotels, many of which allow online pre-booking. Passengers with pre-booked shuttle services who have difficulty finding their assigned driver are advised to contact customer service directly.

Local bus

Buses operate between downtown Cancún and the Playa del Carmen bus station. ADO provides services to Cancun. Buses depart every 10 minutes from 8:00 to approximately 23:30. For the journey to Playa del Carmen, buses operate every 20-30 minutes. Playa del Carmen buses drop off passengers at the crossroads for Puerto Morelos, where taxis are readily available.

Long-distance bus

ADO, the primary long-distance bus carrier in southeastern Mexico, serves various destinations, including Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulúm, and Mérida (with stops at Altabrisa station and Paseo 60 station). Additionally, ADO provides transportation to Cozumel (via Bus + Ferry) and Chiquila (via Bus + Ferry).

ADO buses make stops at all ground transportation terminals and travel directly to the ADO Bus stations in the specified towns, without making stops at hotels or along the route. Coaches accommodate 44 passengers, featuring air conditioning and high-definition entertainment screens. Tickets for ADO buses can be pre-purchased through the official ADO website.

Train

Cancun International Airport houses the largest station on the recently established Tren Maya, a 1,500 km intercity rail network. Located on the opposite side of the runway from the main terminal buildings, this station is equipped with nine platforms. Commencing December 16, 2023, the station will facilitate departures along both the west route, connecting to destinations such as Chichén Itzá railway station, Teya Mérida railway station, and San Francisco de Campeche railway station, and the south route, serving Tulum railway station, Tulum International Airport, and Chetumal Airport. Trains are scheduled to operate at least every 2 hours along these routes.

The Cancún Airport-Tren Maya Station Connection is a shuttle bus connection that will connect the 4 terminals of the Cancún International Airport with the Cancún Airport railway station of the Tren Maya, near Cancún. [18] The connection is through 7 electric buses, which operate a 4 km route at a speed of 69 km/h. Each of them has a maximum capacity of 47 passengers. [19]

Accidents and incidents

  • On March 15, 1984, Aerocozumel Flight 261 crashed soon after takeoff. No one died in the crash, but one passenger died of a heart attack while evacuating the swampy crash scene. [20]
  • On September 9, 2009, Mexico City-bound Aeroméxico Flight 576 was hijacked after take off. The hijackers were Bolivians who wanted to speak to the President. The plane landed safely in Mexico City, and the hijackers were arrested. [21]

Accolades

  • 2011 – Best Airport in Latin America – Caribbean of the Airport Service Quality Awards by Airports Council International [22] and 2nd Best Airport by Size in the 5 to 15 million passenger category [23]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Passenger's Traffic" (in Spanish). ASUR. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  2. ^ "Cancun passes 30 million passengers in 2022; new records for both domestic and international traffic".
  3. ^ "Statistics by Airport" (Web). Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  4. ^ "History". Cancun Online Community. August 2016. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  5. ^ "Inaugurated Terminal 3 of Cancún Airport (in Spanish)". Periódico El Economista. March 2016. Archived from the original on May 31, 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  6. ^ "Cancun opens second runway as traffic grows 30% in two years; US routes lead way". anna.aero. October 2009. Archived from the original on September 20, 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  7. ^ "Third Quarter 2014 Earnings Call Transcript" (PDF). Aeropuertos del Sureste. October 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  8. ^ "Cancun Airport's Link to Maya Train: Construction Set to Start Soon".
  9. ^ "theyucatantimes.com – Cancun airport's new 4th terminal will open Oct. 10". October 5, 2017. Archived from the original on November 16, 2017. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  10. ^ "Cancun Airport Terminal 4". Archived from the original on November 16, 2017. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  11. ^ "CVG lands 2 new nonstop flights from Delta". Dayton 24/7 Now. June 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  12. ^ "RDU's busiest airline announces nonstop flights to two more destinations". The News & Observer. June 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  13. ^ "Flair Airlines Adds Calgary – Cancun Service From Dec 2023". Aeroroutes. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  14. ^ a b "Flair Airlines NW23 Network Expansion – 01AUG23". Aeroroutes. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  15. ^ a b "Southwest Airlines Extends Flight Schedule With New International Options And Most-Ever Departures". Southwest Airlines. October 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  16. ^ "Volaris announces new air connection McAllen -Cancún". 24 Horas (in Spanish). February 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Estadística operacional por origen-destino / Traffic Statistics by City Pairs" (in Spanish). Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil. January 2024. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  18. ^ Redacción (June 13, 2023). "Conectarán Aeropuerto Cancún con estación del Tren Maya". Revista Magazzine (in Spanish). Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  19. ^ Aviacionline, Redacción (June 12, 2023). "Aeropuerto de Cancún - Estación Tren Maya: en julio inician las obras de la conexión ferroviaria". Aviacionline.com (in Spanish). Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  20. ^ "Aviation Safety Network". Aviation-safety.net. March 15, 1984. Archived from the original on November 12, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2013.
  21. ^ https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/09/09/world/AP-LT-Mexico-Hijacking.html[ dead link]
  22. ^ "ASQ Award for Best Airport in Latin America – Caribbean" Archived 2012-02-18 at the Wayback Machine Airports Council International. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-13
  23. ^ "ASQ Award for Best Airport by Size (5-15m)" Archived 2012-02-19 at the Wayback Machine Airports Council International. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-13

External links