Cancún International Airport
Cancun International Airport Aeropuerto Internacional de Cancún | |||||||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||
| Operator | Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste | ||||||||||||||
| Serves | Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico | ||||||||||||||
| Location | Benito Juárez, Quintana Roo, Mexico | ||||||||||||||
| Opened | 1975 | ||||||||||||||
| Hub for | Viva | ||||||||||||||
| Focus city for | Volaris Magnicharters | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | EST (UTC-05:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 6 m / 20 ft | ||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 21°02′12″N 86°52′37″W / 21.03667°N 86.87694°W | ||||||||||||||
| Website | www | ||||||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||||||
  CUN Location of the airport in Quintana Roo  CUN CUN (Mexico) | |||||||||||||||
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| Runways | |||||||||||||||
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| Statistics (2023) | |||||||||||||||
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Source: Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste[1] | |||||||||||||||
Cancún International Airport (Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional de Cancún) (IATA: CUN, ICAO: MMUN) serves as the primary gateway for the Cancún Metropolitan Area in Quintana Roo, the Mexican Caribbean, Riviera Maya, and Yucatán Peninsula. Operating as a hub for Viva Aerobus and a focus city for Volaris and Magnicharters, it facilitates flights to over 100 cities across 30 countries in the Americas and Europe. The airport is managed by Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste (ASUR) and is the easternmost airport in Mexico.
It is the largest airport in Mexico and Latin America in terms of international passengers, representing 35% of all international passengers in the country. Cancun Airport is a major destination served by most U.S. and Canadian mainline airlines from all their hubs and focus cities, making it the airport outside the United States with the highest number of passengers to and from the United States.[2]
Ranked as the 43rd busiest airport in the world, Cancun Airport is Mexico's second busiest, following Mexico City International Airport.[3] Regionally, it stands as Latin America's fourth busiest and North America's 24th busiest airport as of 2023. In 2022, it handled 30,342,961 passengers, increasing to 32,750,411 passengers in 2023.[1]
In addition to its commercial operations, Cancun Airport supports various activities in general and executive aviation, flight training, and intensive air charter services. Cozumel and Tulum international airports serve as alternative options in the Cancun area, contributing to the region's overall aviation infrastructure.
History
Early operations
Cancun's initial airport was established in 1942 as a strategic move to support the region's primary industry at the time: the chewing gum industry. This early airport operated on a rudimentary runway, featuring a control tower constructed from wood and reeds, which remained in operation until 1973. To commemorate its history, a replica stands near the city's entrance, close to its original location.[4]
In the early 1970s, Cancun emerged as a major tourist destination following a deliberate effort by the Mexican government, in collaboration with the National Tourism Development Fund (Spanish: Fondo Nacional de Fomento al Turismo FONATUR). Recognizing its strategic location near pristine beaches, natural landscapes, and archaeological sites, the comprehensive plan aimed to transform Cancun from a sparsely inhabited area into a world-class tourist hub. Substantial investments in infrastructure were made, including the construction of the new Cancun International Airport, executed by Henro y Asociados in collaboration with the Department of Infrastructure. The airport's inaugural commercial flight occurred on May 12, 1975, drawing swift attention from international tourists.
Throughout its history, Cancun Airport has hosted a variety of airlines. It served as a hub for Mexicana, Interjet, and Aladia in their operational years, facilitating connections for both domestic and international flights. The defunct charter airline Aerocancun, based in Cancun, also provided flights to U.S., Canadian, European, and South American destinations. MAYAir, established in 1994 initially as a charter airline, expanded its routes from Cancun to various destinations in the Yucatan Peninsula.
Privatization and expansion
In 1995, Mexico embarked on a significant airport privatization initiative through the 'Ley de Aeropuertos' (Airports Law) introduced by the Department of Infrastructure. This marked a pivotal moment for Cancun Airport, integrating it into the Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste ASUR.
Until the early 2000s, Cancun Airport operated with two terminals. A major transformation began in 2005 when ASUR invested US$150 million in constructing Terminal 3, officially inaugurated in 2007.[5] Key additions, including a new runway and Latin America's tallest control tower at 97 meters, were unveiled in October 2009, effectively doubling the airport's passenger handling capacity.[6] On November 27, 2013, Cancun Airport achieved another milestone, becoming the first in Mexico to welcome the Airbus A380, commemorating the 80th anniversary of Air France and the 15th anniversary of ASUR.
The expansion continued with Terminal 2 in 2014 and a significant 76,000 square metres (820,000 sq ft) expansion of Terminal 3 in 2016, introducing six gates and additional commercial areas.[7] This expansion aimed at accommodating the growing annual capacity, increasing it to 10 million from the previous 6 million. In response to the overcrowding and surging demand, Terminal 4 was inaugurated in October 2017.
Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Mexican authorities maintained open borders for tourism, positioning Cancun as one of the select international destinations to welcome visitors.
Facilities
The airport is located in the Cancun urban area, less than 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) southwest of the tourist complex, at an elevation of 6 metres (20 ft) above sea level. It features two runways: Runway 12R/30L, measuring 3,500 metres (11,500 ft) in length, and Runway 12L/30R, spanning 2,800 metres (9,200 ft). With the capability to accommodate large aircraft such as Boeing 747s and Airbus A380s, the airport boasts two parallel operative runways that can be used simultaneously. Cancun Airport is the easternmost airport in Mexico.
Cancun Airport comprises three terminals dedicated to scheduled flights (Terminals 2, 3, and 4), one terminal specifically for charter flights (Terminal 1), and an FBO terminal. This makes it the airport with the most passenger terminals in Mexico. Beyond the terminals, the airport offers long-term and short-term parking facilities, on-site hotels, a variety of restaurants, and rental car services. It also accommodates facilities for the Mexican Airspace Navigation Services (Spanish: Servicios a la Navegación en el Espacio Aéreo Mexicano).
Terminals
Terminal 1 (only charter)
Exclusively dedicated to charter or private flights, Terminal 1 features 7 gates numbered 1 to 7, 3 helicopter stands, and a VIP lounge, offering comprehensive services for private air travel. Temporarily closed for reconstruction after Hurricane Wilma, the terminal resumed operations exclusively for charter flights upon reopening in November 2013.
Terminal 2
As the oldest terminal, Terminal 2 accommodates arrival and departure services for domestic and international flights. With 22 gates—A1 through A11 (in a satellite building) and B12 through B22 (at the main building)—it serves most domestic airlines, along with all international flights to Central and South America and select long-haul flights to Europe. The check-in area houses a bank and food outlets, while the boarding area features several restaurants and shops, along with immigration/customs services. Two lounges, the MERA Business Lounge and The Lounge by Global Lounge Network cater to domestic and international travelers.
The primary tenants at the terminal are Viva Aerobus, which operates a hub at this location, and Magnicharters and Volaris, operating a focus city services along with Volaris Costa Rica and Volaris El Salvador. Other airlines serving Terminal 1 include Aerolíneas Argentinas, Alaska Airlines, Arajet, Avianca, Avianca Costa Rica, Avianca Ecuador, Avianca El Salvador, Conviasa, Copa Airlines, LATAM Brasil, LATAM Chile, LATAM Perú, LOT Polish Airlines, Neos, Sky Airline Peru, Sunwing Airlines, TAG Airlines, TUI Airways, TUI fly Netherlands, TUI fly Belgium, and Wingo.
Terminal 3
Dedicated exclusively to international flights, Terminal 3 features 21 gates (C4 through C24). Primarily utilized by major US carriers and select Canadian and European carriers, the terminal provides amenities such as shops, including duty-free options, cafés, restaurants, and immigration and customs facilities. Terminal 3 is home to the MERA Business Lounge. The ground transportation facility is situated outside the arrivals hall.
The airlines flying to Terminal 3 are Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, Air Caraïbes, American Airlines, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Iberojet, Spirit Airlines, United Airlines, Wamos Air, and World2fly.
Terminal 4
Terminal 4 serves both domestic and international flights. It opened in October 2017, making Cancún Airport the first airport in Mexico to have four terminals. It features 14 gates equipped with jetbridges and can handle 9 million passengers a year.[8] An on-site hotel is also planned to be opened, as well as a parking structure. Three lounges serve Terminal 4. They are the MERA Business Lounge (national), MERA Business Lounge (international), and The Lounge in Partnership with Air Transat.[9]
At Terminal 4, ADO bus tickets are available for a price approximately five times higher than the standard rate. It is advisable to either purchase the ticket online or consider walking to Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 to potentially save around 400 Mexican pesos (M$110) or 25 US dollars (USD 25) as of 2023. The bus stop is located past the ground transportation facility.
The airlines flying to Terminal 4 are Aeroméxico, Air Europa, Air France, Air Transat, Austrian Airlines, Condor, Discover Airlines, Edelweiss Air, Flair Airlines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines, and WestJet.
FBO terminal
The FBO terminal caters to general aviation from Mexico, the United States, and Latin America. It is positioned south of the passenger terminal complex, near the main airport entrance. It offers various services, including ground support, fuel coordination, ground transportation, car rental, catering, and airport lounges. Additionally, the FBO accommodates commercial services from the Belizean airline Tropic Air.
Inter-terminal transportation
Terminal-to-terminal transportation is facilitated by an inter-terminal shuttle, with buses departing from each terminal every 10 minutes.
Airlines and destinations
Passenger
- Notes
^1 TUI fly Belgium's flight from Brussels to Cancún makes a stop in Havana; however, the airline does not have traffic rights from Havana to Cancún.
^2 Turkish Airlines's flight from Istanbul to Cancún makes a stop in Mexico City; however, the airline does not have local traffic rights from Mexico City to Cancún.
^3 Viva flight to Los Cabos makes a stopover in Toluca.
Cargo
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Amerijet International | Belize City, Ciudad del Carmen, Mérida, Miami |
| Estafeta Carga Aérea | Mérida, Miami |
| FedEx Express | Mérida, Miami |
Destination maps
 Cancún Domestic destinations from Cancún International Airport Red = Year-round destination Blue = Future destination Green = Seasonal destination Grey = Charter destination |
 Canadian destinations from Cancún International Airport Red = Year-round destination Blue = Future destination Green = Seasonal destination |
 US destinations from Cancún International Airport Red = Year-round destination Blue = Future destination Green = Seasonal destination Grey = Charter destination Cyan = Future seasonal destination |
 Cancún Central American and Caribbean destinations from Cancún International Airport Red = Year-round destination Blue = Future destination Green = Seasonal destination |
South American destinations from Cancún International Airport Red = Year-round destination Blue = Future destination Green = Seasonal destination |
 European destinations from Cancún International Airport Red = Year-round destination Blue = Future destination Green = Seasonal destination Grey = Charter destination |
Traffic statistics
Passengers
 | Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org. |
| Year | Total passengers | % change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 6,969,733 | – |
| 2000 | 7,745,317 |  11.1%
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| 2001 | 7,639,021 |  1.4%
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| 2002 | 7,717,144 | 1.0%
|
| 2003 | 8,683,950 | 12.5%
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| 2004 | 10,010,526 | 15.3%
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| 2005 | 9,301,240 | 7.1%
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| 2006 | 9,728,149 | 4.6%
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| 2007 | 11,340,027 | 16.6%
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| 2008 | 12,646,451 | 11.5%
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| 2009 | 11,174,908 | 11.6%
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| 2010 | 12,439,266 | 11.3%
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| 2011 | 13,022,481 | 4.7%
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| 2012 | 14,463,435 | 11.1%
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| 2013 | 15,962,162 | 10.4%
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| 2014 | 17,455,353 | 9.4%
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| 2015 | 19,596,485 | 12.3%
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| 2016 | 21,415,795 | 9.3%
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| 2017 | 23,601,509 | 10.2%
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| 2018 | 25,202,016 | 6.8%
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| 2019 | 25,481,989 | 1.1%
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| 2020 | 12,259,148 | 51.89%
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| 2021 | 22,318,467 | 82.1%
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| 2022 | 30,342,961 | 36.0%
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| 2023 | 32,750,411 | 7.9%
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Busiest routes
| Rank | City | Passengers | YoY % change | Ranking | Airlines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico City | 2,209,042 | 10.16% |
 |
Aeroméxico, Aeroméxico Connect, Magnicharters, Viva Aerobus, Volaris |
| 2 | Monterrey | 929,327 | 9.84% |
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Magnicharters, Viva Aerobus, Volaris |
| 3 | Guadalajara | 558,871 | 5.82% |
|
Magnicharters, Viva Aerobus, Volaris |
| 4 | Mexico City – AIFA | 356,765 | 193.26% |
3 |
Aeroméxico, Viva Aerobus, Volaris |
| 5 | Tijuana | 307,857 | 24.78% |
1 |
Viva Aerobus, Volaris |
| 6 | Toluca | 223,511 | 170.25% |
7 |
Viva Aerobus, Volaris |
| 7 | León/El Bajío | 215,882 | 32.44% |
2 |
Magnicharters, Viva Aerobus, Volaris |
| 8 | Puebla | 173,349 | 11.27% |
2 |
Magnicharters, Viva Aerobus, Volaris |
| 9 | Querétaro | 157,745 | 39.56% |
|
Magnicharters, Viva Aerobus, Volaris |
| 10 | Ciudad Juárez | 145,445 | 17.24% |
|
Viva Aerobus, |
| Rank | City | Passengers | YoY % change | Ranking | Airlines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas/Fort Worth | 579,645 | 4.69% |
|
American Airlines, Spirit, Sun Country |
| 2 | Houston (Intercontinental and Hobby)[a] | 567,815 | 1.04% |
|
Frontier, Southwest, Spirit, Sun Country, United Airlines |
| 3 | Chicago (O'Hare and Midway)[b] | 502,908 | 1.15% |
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American Airlines, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit, United Airlines |
| 4 | Atlanta | 441,838 | 16.26% |
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Delta Air Lines, Frontier |
| 5 | Toronto-Pearson | 392,149 | 43.70% |
5 |
Air Canada, Air Transat, Canada Jetlines, Flair Air, Sunwing Airlines, WestJet |
| 6 | New York-JFK | 358,698 | 4.74% |
|
American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue |
| 7 | Panama City–Tocumen | 331,109 | 6.86% |
2 |
Copa Airlines |
| 8 | Denver | 319,065 | 0.51% |
|
Frontier, Southwest, United Airlines |
| 9 | Los Angeles | 315,782 | 11.37% |
|
Alaska, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, United Airlines |
| 10 | Miami | 282,558 | 12.26% |
1 |
American Airlines |
- Notes
Ground transportation
The primary mode of transportation to and from the airport is by road. Travelers to Cancun often arrange ground transportation in advance due to its convenience. Official airport taxis, known for their higher costs, are generally discouraged, and local taxis are not permitted for pickups at the airport. Large short- and long-term parking facilities are available at all terminals.
Local shuttles
Each terminal features extensive ground transportation facilities with numbered boarding platforms, and nearby snack stands. These facilities are serviced by various companies offering transportation to and from hotels, many of which allow online pre-booking.
Long-distance bus
ADO, the primary long-distance bus carrier in southeastern Mexico, serves various destinations, including Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulúm, and Mérida (with stops at Altabrisa station and Paseo 60 station). Additionally, ADO provides transportation to Cozumel (via Bus + Ferry) and Chiquilá (via Bus + Ferry).
ADO buses stop at all ground transportation terminals and travel directly to the ADO Bus stations in the specified towns without stopping at hotels or along the route. Coaches accommodate 44 passengers and feature air conditioning and high-definition entertainment screens.
Train
Cancun International Airport is across Federal Highway 180 from Cancún Airport railway station, the largest station on the recently established Tren Maya, a 1,500 km intercity rail network. This station has nine platforms located on the opposite side of the runway from the main terminal buildings. The station will facilitate departures along both the west route, connecting to destinations such as Chichén Itzá railway station, Teya Mérida railway station, and San Francisco de Campeche railway station, and the south route, serving Tulum railway station, Tulum Airport railway station, and Chetumal Airport railway station. Trains are scheduled to operate at least every 2 hours along these routes.
The Conexión Intermodal Tren Maya is a shuttle bus connection that will connect the four terminals of the airport with the railway station.[31] The connection is through 7 electric buses, which operate a 4 km route at a speed of 69 km/h. Each of them has a maximum capacity of 47 passengers.[32]
Accidents and incidents
- On December 26, 1980, a British Aerospace 125 operated by Servicios Aereos Regiomontanos (SARSA) descended into trees on climbout and crashed one kilometer from the airport. All three occupants were killed.[33]
- On March 15, 1984, Aerocozumel Flight 261 crashed soon after takeoff. No one died in the crash, but one passenger died of a heart attack while evacuating the swampy crash scene.[34]
- On September 9, 2009, Mexico City-bound Aeroméxico Flight 576 was hijacked after take off. The hijackers were Bolivians who wanted to speak to the President. The plane landed safely in Mexico City, all hostages were released, and the hijackers were arrested.[35]
Accolades
- 2011 – Best Airport in Latin America – Caribbean of the Airport Service Quality Awards by Airports Council International[36] and 2nd Best Airport by Size in the 5 to 15 million passenger category[37]
See also
- List of busiest airports by passenger traffic
- List of the busiest airports in Mexico
- List of airports in Mexico
- List of airports by ICAO code: M
- List of busiest airports in North America
- List of the busiest airports in Latin America
- Transportation in Mexico
- Tourism in Mexico
- Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste
- List of beaches in Mexico
- List of cities by international visitors
- Riviera Maya
- Isla Mujeres
- Caribbean Sea
References
- ^ a b c "Passenger's Traffic" (in Spanish). ASUR. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
- ^ "Cancun passes 30 million passengers in 2022; new records for both domestic and international traffic".
- ^ "Statistics by Airport" (Web). Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- ^ "History". Cancun Online Community. August 2016. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
- ^ "Inaugurated Terminal 3 of Cancún Airport (in Spanish)". Periódico El Economista. March 2016. Archived from the original on May 31, 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
- ^ "Cancun opens second runway as traffic grows 30% in two years; US routes lead way". anna.aero. October 2009. Archived from the original on September 20, 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
- ^ "Third Quarter 2014 Earnings Call Transcript" (PDF). Aeropuertos del Sureste. October 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
- ^ "theyucatantimes.com – Cancun airport's new 4th terminal will open Oct. 10". October 5, 2017. Archived from the original on November 16, 2017. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
- ^ "Cancun Airport Terminal 4". Archived from the original on November 16, 2017. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
- ^ "Aeromexico Announces New Route Between Cancun and Miami". Transponder1200 (in Spanish). August 2024. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Airline company Aerus confirms that it will begin operations in QR". Noticaribe (in Spanish). March 2024. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
- ^ "Air Canada Offers Québec City Region a New Hotspot for This Winter with Non-stop Flights to Tulum". aircanada.com. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ "Alaska Adds 18 New Routes". Airline Geeks. July 10, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ "Arajet Launches Punta Cana Service From late-Oct 2024". Aeroroutes. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
- ^ "Avelo Soars: Adds Bradley As A Hub, 18 Destinations, 2 International". Patch. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
- ^ "CVG lands two new nonstop flights from Delta". Dayton 24/7 Now. June 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
- ^ "RDU's busiest airline announces nonstop flights to two more destinations". The News & Observer. June 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
- ^ "Gol Linhas Aereas resumes direct flights to Cancun". A21 (in Spanish). June 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ "JetBlue Announces Puerto Rico Expansion, New Mint Service to Three Cities, and Three New Destinations". JetBlue Newsroom. May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
- ^ "New Route Puebla". Magnicharters (X). June 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
- ^ "Neos Adds Verona – Cancun Sector in NW24". AeroRoutes.
- ^ "Neos Adds Verona – Cancun Sector in NW24". AeroRoutes.
- ^ "Southwest Airlines Extends Flight Schedule With New International Options And Most-Ever Departures". Southwest Airlines. October 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
- ^ "Colorado Springs Airport lands first international route". The Denver Gazette. October 30, 2024. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ a b "Sunwing announces its 2024-2025 winter schedule with the addition of three new sun destinations Canadians can explore, including Tulum, Camaguey-Santa Lucia and San Andrés". Cision. August 20, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
- ^ "TUI Airways Schedules Belfast – Cancun Service in June/July 2025". AeroRoutes. November 7, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
- ^ Liu, Jim (November 8, 2024). "Virgin Atlantic Resumes Cancun Service From Oct 2025". Aeroroutes.com. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
- ^ a b "Viva Aerobus Adds 2 Cancun – US Routes in 1H25". Aeroroutes. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "Volaris announces new air connection McAllen -Cancún". 24 Horas (in Spanish). February 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
- ^ a b "Estadística operacional por origen-destino / Traffic Statistics by City Pairs" (in Spanish). Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil. January 2024. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
- ^ Redacción (June 13, 2023). "Conectarán Aeropuerto Cancún con estación del Tren Maya". Revista Magazzine (in Spanish). Retrieved September 14, 2023.
- ^ Aviacionline, Redacción (June 12, 2023). "Aeropuerto de Cancún - Estación Tren Maya: en julio inician las obras de la conexión ferroviaria". Aviacionline.com (in Spanish). Retrieved September 14, 2023.
- ^ "Accident Description for XA-CUZ". Aviation-Safety.net. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
- ^ "Aviation Safety Network". Aviation-safety.net. March 15, 1984. Archived from the original on November 12, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2013.
- ^ https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/09/09/world/AP-LT-Mexico-Hijacking.html [dead link]
- ^ "ASQ Award for Best Airport in Latin America – Caribbean" Archived 2012-02-18 at the Wayback Machine Airports Council International. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-13
- ^ "ASQ Award for Best Airport by Size (5-15m)" Archived 2012-02-19 at the Wayback Machine Airports Council International. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-13
External links
Media from Commons
Travel information from Wikivoyage
- Official website
- Aeronautical chart and airport information for MMUN at SkyVector
- Current weather for MMUN at NOAA/NWS
- Accident history for CUN at Aviation Safety Network
- Cancun Airport travel data at Airportsdata.net (in English)
- Cancun Airport Terminal 2 Map at Transcun.com (in English)
- Airport Cancun Arrivals and Departures at Cancun Airport (in English)
