Cancún Airport Passenger Traffic Stabilizes, Supporting Mexican Caribbean Tourism Recovery: What You Need to Know

Published on December 11, 2025

Cancún, the main air gateway to the Mexican Caribbean tourism region, handled more than two million passengers in November, a year‑over‑year decline of only 0.8 percent, indicating a clear stabilization in traffic trends. This modest drop follows a period of more volatile performance and suggests that travel demand linked to Cancún tourism is settling into a more sustainable pattern ahead of the peak holiday season in Mexico.​

For the wider tourism economy, this stabilization means more predictable visitor flows, allowing hotels, tour operators, and local businesses in Cancún and surrounding destinations like the Riviera Maya to plan inventory, staffing, and pricing with greater confidence. The numbers underline the airport’s continuing role as a cornerstone for Mexican Caribbean tourism, connecting the region to major global markets.​

Domestic vs International Tourism Flows

Domestic traffic at Cancún reached more than eight hundred thousand passengers in November, representing a 5.6 percent decline compared to the same month a year earlier. This softening in domestic travel reflects shifting patterns within Mexico and a milder shoulder season, but still provides a substantial base of domestic tourism that supports year‑round demand.​

By contrast, international traffic, the principal engine of Cancún’s tourism economy, grew 1.7 percent  to more than one million passengers, reinforcing the destination’s strong pull among overseas travelers. This increase in international arrivals is particularly important for tourism revenue, as long‑haul visitors typically stay longer and spend more on accommodation, dining, and excursions across the Mexican Caribbean tourism corridor.​

Year‑to‑Date Performance and Tourism Outlook

From January through November, Cancún handled more than twenty-seven million passengers, a 3.5 percent decline versus 2024, signaling that overall volumes remain slightly below last year even as current data points toward stabilization. The improvement in November’s relative performance indicates that earlier weakness is beginning to level off, which bodes well for tourism operators heading into the high‑spend festive and winter months.​

For Cancún tourism, a smaller year‑to‑date decline combined with a steadier final quarter suggests that the destination is entering 2026 on firmer ground. This environment encourages continued investment in hotels, attractions, and tourism infrastructure across the Mexican Caribbean, supporting long‑term competitiveness in a crowded global market.​

Airline Capacity and Holiday Tourism Demand

The stabilizing results come as airlines continue to add capacity into the Mexican Caribbean, especially on routes from the United States and Canada, where demand for warm‑weather tourism remains strong heading into the holidays. Additional seats and frequencies improve accessibility to Cancún, stimulating tourism by making it easier for travelers to secure flights at competitive prices during peak booking windows.​

This capacity expansion has a multiplier effect on tourism: more flights support higher hotel occupancy, sustain jobs across the hospitality sector, and encourage the development of new tours, experiences, and culinary offerings throughout Cancún and nearby resort areas. As carriers align their schedules with strong winter demand, the region’s tourism economy stands to benefit from both volume and higher‑yield visitors.​

What Stabilizing Traffic Means for Mexican Caribbean Tourism

The combination of a slight overall decline, rising international arrivals, and increased airline capacity indicates a maturing, resilient tourism market in Cancún. Stabilizing passenger traffic reduces volatility for the destination, helping tourism stakeholders manage resources more efficiently and maintain service quality during both peak and shoulder seasons.​

For the broader Mexican Caribbean tourism region, these trends highlight continued global interest in the area’s beaches, resorts, and cultural attractions, despite earlier headwinds. As Cancún consolidates its role as a reliable and well‑connected hub, the positive ripple effects on employment, investment, and community‑based tourism projects are likely to strengthen the region’s long‑term appeal to international and domestic travelers alike.