Lights Out: United Airlines To Exit Tulum After Less Than 2 Years Of Service

Published Oct 30, 2026, 1:44 PM EDT Journalist – Aaron is an aviation and travel journalist with 14 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry. His background spans airport operations, aviation infrastructure, and travel consulting, having worked with global organizations across New Zealand, Europe, and North America. Combining industry expertise with firsthand travel experience across more than 52 countries and five continents, Aaron covers airlines, airports, aviation policy, and the wider travel sector. He is based in Canterbury, New Zealand. His work has been published in Simple Flying and featured by MSN, SAM CHUI Aviation & Travel, EIN News, Pakistan Defence, and Climate Depot. United Airlines is set to end its two routes to the Riviera Maya, as the Star Alliance carrier ends its two nonstop flights to Tulum International Airport (TQO). Currently, the airline operates two services to Tulum: a seasonal service from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), which was already announced would not return next season and would end on January 24, while its year-round service from Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) will be axed on January 2, as reported by Ishrion Aviation. United began serving Tulum in April 2024; the airline had been averaging up to four flights a week. The link between Houston and Tulum is short at just 831 miles (1,337 km), and is the shortest US flight from the Mexican airport. United Airlines Exits Tulum After Just Two Years Credit: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock Tulum International Airport, by its official name Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport, is located 12 miles (20 km) southwest of Tulum in the Quintana Roo region of Mexico. It serves as the second gateway for international and domestic travel to the Mexican Caribbean region and the Riviera Maya. It is a secondary airport for the region after Cancun International Airport (CUN), which is 78 miles (125 km) to the north. Since the airport's opening, several international carriers have started serving the airport; American Airlines and Delta Air Lines are the only US carriers currently serving the airport. Delta has already scaled back its operations to Tulum, discontinuing its service from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP). Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the only Delta route remaining, while American serves the airport from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Miami International Airport (MIA). United's move to withdraw from Tulum comes alongside other major carriers who are cutting services to the airport due to lower-than-expected demand. The region is experiencing a broader tourism slump, and some suggest the airport is overcapacity. Airlines had overprojected how many travelers could abandon Cancun in favor of Tulum, and as a result, many airlines are reconsidering services. Simple Flying reached out to United Airlines for comment. Tulum Opened For Commercial Flights In December 2023 Credit: George Wirt | Shutterstock Operated by Grupo Olmeca Maya Mexica, a holding company owned by the Mexican military, the airport has relied on passengers opting to abandon nearby Cancun airport and pick Tulum as its primary gateway to the Yucatan Peninsula. Many have questioned the military's involvement in the civilian functions at the airport, raising concerns about the general accountability and transparency of the airport operations. The airport has a 12,000 feet (3,700 sq m) terminal that is capable of accommodating widebody aircraft. There are 123 aircraft stands, and at present these are all used by narrowbody aircraft. Current year-round and seasonal operators include: Airline Year-Round Destination Seasonal Destination Air Canada - Montreal (YUL) Toronto (YYZ) Air Transat - Montreal (YUL) Quebec City (YQB) American Airlines Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) Miami (MIA) - Delta Air Lines Atlanta (ATL) - Mexicana de Aviacion Mexico City Felipe Ángeles (NLU) - United Airlines Houston (IAH) - through January 2 Newark (EWR) - through January 24 Viva Mexico City Felipe Ángeles (NLU) Monterrey (MTY) - Volaris Guadalajara (GDL) - ending January 7 - WestJet - Calgary (YYC) Montreal (YUL) Toronto (YYZ) To date, the busiest routes from Tulum have been to Mexico City (Felipe Ángeles), with more than 170,000 passengers carried within the 2025 calendar year, as reported by the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil). International travelers have primarily flown to Houston or Atlanta, with both US airports recording more than 50,000 annual passengers. Is United's Exit A Sign The Tulum Airport Project Is Failing? Credit: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock While initially the withdrawal of Newark services was planned, a total exit and termination of services from Houston to Tulum comes as more carriers reconsider their options at Tulum. The airport is widely considered a slow burn, rather than an immediate success. The high operational costs for both airlines and the airport, paired with dropping passenger numbers, have seen Tulum face severe airline pullbacks. Aeromexico, Mexico's flag carrier has already completely exited the airport, while Volaris will terminate its nonstop service to Guadalajara in the new year. Passengers have pointed out to the Tulum Times that there are logistical challenges of flying into Tulum, with high ground transportation costs, which have shifted their travel plans back to Cancun airport, which still receives the majority of all domestic and international flights to the region.