Nonstop flights from the U.S. straight to Tulum (TQO) are coming soon, and American Airlines will offer more flights to put you in the buzzing resort town south of Cancún (CUN) than any other U.S. carrier.
The brand-new Tulum airport is expected to welcome its first flights next month, with international service between the U.S. and Mexico commencing in late March. American on Friday announced it'll run not one, not two, but four flights a day straight to Tulum starting March 28, including:
- Two daily flights from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW)
- One daily flight from Miami (MIA)
- One daily flight from Charlotte (CLT)
Those three routes will give American Airlines flyers plenty of options to fly to Tulum next year, whether they fly nonstop or connect through one of these American hubs – American says more than 200 U.S. cities will be able to fly to Tulum connecting through one of those airports. All of American's Tulum flights will be operated on a Boeing 737.
The four daily American Airlines flights are set to go on sale Nov. 13. With those routes, American will be the largest airline at the airport, where nonstop service will allow travelers to skip the 90-plus-minute drive from Cancún.
But it isn't even the first U.S. carrier to target Tulum.
Delta was the first to make it official with a new route from its Atlanta (ATL) headquarters. Spirit followed up with nonstop service from both Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Orlando (MCO). Meanwhile, Mexican carriers Viva Aerobus and Aeromexico have added several routes within the country to Tulum.
Already, American operates a whopping 40 daily nonstop flights to nearby Cancún (CUN) from 18 U.S. destinations.
American Takes Aim at Tokyo, Too
When Delta ceded a coveted slot at Tokyo-Haneda (HND) earlier this year, we knew airlines would be putting together their proposals to jump into the Tokyo market. American just entered the chat.
American Airlines is proposing a New York City (JFK) to Tokyo-Haneda (HND) route on one of its Boeing 777-200s once a day, according to an application to the Department of Transportation.
Both All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines – an American Airlines partner in the Oneworld alliance – already operate nonstops from JFK to Tokyo, while United Airlines flies from nearby in Newark (EWR). But American would be the only U.S. carrier to offer nonstops to Haneda from New York City's largest airport.
American already operates flights between Haneda and both Dallas and Los Angeles (LAX). But other airlines are also chomping at the bit to pick up the prized slots at Haneda – a far-more convenient airport than Tokyo-Narita (NRT) thanks to its central location.
United has proposed starting a Guam (GUM) route and, more recently, applied for its first-ever nonstop route from Houston-Intercontinental (IAH) to Tokyo. Delta has not yet proposed an alternative route to Tokyo after giving up on its Portland service.Â
Bottom Line
American Airlines has big plans for Tulum. With four flights a day from three of its biggest hubs, it's poised to become the largest carrier at the brand-new airport when international service begins March 28, 2024.
But the Dallas-based airline is also looking across the Pacific, throwing its hat in the ring for an empty slot at Tokyo-Haneda (HND) with aims of starting daily nonstop service from New York City (JFK).
Lead photo courtesy of Chris Lundberg via Flickr