Cancun, Q.R. — The Mexican Caribbean tourism industry will face a major challenge during the upcoming high season. According to authorities, airlines are cutting even more seats between May and August.
Industry estimates show approximately 900,000 fewer seats will be available during the summer of 2026 compared to the same time last year.
Francisco Madrid Flores. the director of the Center for Advanced Research in Sustainable Tourism (STARC), explained that this decrease represents a direct impact on the state’s connectivity, particularly Cancun.
He specified that a considerable part of the reduction corresponds to adjustments made by Spirit Airlines, which alone would have withdrawn more than 300,000 seats from the market during those months.
The scenario is a response to a strategic reorganization by several international airlines who have opted to concentrate on domestic routes within the United States.
This decision has caused some flights to Caribbean destinations to lose priority in the 2026 summer schedule.
Madrid Flores says with U.S. airlines prioritizing their domestic market, state tourism will face one of the most complex summers in recent years in terms of air connectivity.
