Cancun Airport has been experiencing a significant decline in air traffic, with passenger numbers dropping by 14.9% in October compared to the same month last year. This marks a steepening of the decline that started a few months ago, according to data from ASUR, which manages the airport.
The reduction in passenger traffic was driven by an 18.3% decline in domestic traffic within Mexico and a 12.2% decrease in international traffic. For the first 10 months of this year, Cancun has seen a 6.9% drop in passenger numbers, with 25.2 million passengers served compared to 27.07 million last year.
Several factors may be contributing to this decline. Firstly, the destination was experiencing rapid growth following the pandemic, and a correction was inevitable. Additionally, the opening of Tulum’s new airport at the end of last year has likely stolen some market share from Cancun.
The active storm season in the western Caribbean Basin may also be playing a role. However, it’s worth noting that many top Caribbean destinations have continued to see strong growth despite the slower season.
It remains unclear whether these factors combined provide a full explanation for the decline. Further monitoring is required to understand the underlying causes of Cancun Airport’s traffic drop.
Source: Caribbean Journal