First look: Tulum's new airport finally welcomes US flights — and it's no Cancun

28.03.2024 - 22:01 / thepointsguy.com / Clint Henderson / Airlines

There's a new airport option for U.S. travelers hoping to make the trek to Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula — one that doesn't involve the packed terminals and dense crowds of Cancun.

On Thursday, Tulum's brand new Felipe Carrillo International Airport (TQO) welcomed the first flights from U.S. airlines. It was an occasion marked by music, dancing and decor on both sides of the border.

Situated nearly 100 miles from the busy Cancun International Airport (CUN), every bit of the Tulum airport is actually new — from the runway to the building and even the access road that leads to the terminal.

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One of several infrastructure mega projects touted by Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, construction on the airport began in earnest in 2022 following years of discussion.

The airport technically opened in December, but that was just for domestic flights operating within Mexico.

The broader grand opening came on Thursday, starting when American Airlines Flight 1131 arrived from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), receiving a water cannon salute upon arrival.

For any airline, flying to a new city is a big deal. That's even truer when it's a new airport altogether, American's senior vice president of DFW hub operations Jim Moses told TPG in a pre-flight interview.

"Our teams have been working really hard — both with the Mexican authorities, with Tulum International Airport — on all the prep work that goes into making all this happen," Moses said.

"All the logistics that go into it, the support for the flights that go in and out of there," Moses explained, "[It's] just a lot of work to start a new city ... a new airport."

On top of inaugurating twice-daily Tulum service from DFW Thursday, American also launched new nonstop routes to the new airport from its hubs at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) and Miami International Airport (MIA).

American went all out in Tulum, too, with its check-in counters decked out in balloons and signage.

There also was a party-like atmosphere at American's departing gate at Tulum, which hosted a news conference celebrating the launch of flights to the U.S. along with food, beverages and lots of balloons.

And American wasn't alone.

Delta Air Lines' first flight from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) also touched down at the new airport Thursday.

Delta had its own celebrations at the check-in counters with balloons, cupcakes and even souvenir Delta Air Lines playing cards available for passengers.

TPG's Clint Henderson was on the inaugural Delta flight from Tulum Thursday afternoon. Delta Air Lines Flight 1772 left from the shiny new D3 gate. There