There appears to be good news for travelers heading to tourist hot spot Tulum in Mexico.
Flights have begun to go on sale to the region’s new international airport, with service appearing ready to begin Dec. 1.
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Previously, travelers visiting Tulum have had to fly into Cancun International Airport (CUN), about two hours to the north along the Yucatan Peninsula’s eastern shore, and either hire a taxi, take a bus or rent a car.
The new Tulum International Airport (TQO) was expected to open next spring. However, as first noted by Thrifty Traveler, flights operated by Aeromexico and Viva Aerobus are already on sale from within Mexico, although passengers traveling from the U.S. can book travel to the airport with a connection.
The first flight into Tulum will be from Viva Aerobus, arriving at 11:15 a.m. from Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU), the secondary hub in Mexico City, according to data from Cirium. Aeromexico’s flight from Mexico City, this one from Mexico City International Airport (MEX), is scheduled to arrive at 11:50 a.m.
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Aeromexico operates a second frequency later in the day, while Viva Aerobus will offer additional service from the primary Mexico City airport, along with Monterrey International Airport (MTY), Guadalajara International Airport (GDL) and Tijuana International Airport (TIJ), throughout the month.
It was not immediately clear when U.S. airlines could begin flying to the new airport. As of publication, no other carriers have added service to TQO through the ends of their schedules.
Notably, the Federal Aviation Administration recently returned Mexico to its highest level of aviation safety certification, paving the way for carriers to add new flights and routes between the U.S. and its southern neighbor, and for U.S. airlines to codeshare with Mexican carriers. Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico are SkyTeam alliance members and operate frequent codeshares as part of a joint venture.
For now, flights are available via connections on Delta and Aeromexico, offering American travelers a new way to get to Tulum’s famous beaches and historic Mayan sites just in time for the holidays.