Los Major beach destinations face the saddest summer holiday season of the last three years due to the rearrangement of the fleet of Volaris and because tourists Foreigners prefer to fly to Europe or Asiasaid specialists; although that airline along with Viva Aerobus had fewer aircraft; however, the growing insecurity in Mexico is pointed out as another of the causes.
He Cancun airport received 2.6 million users in July, 14.1% less than in the same month last year, while that of Puerto Vallarta transported 549 thousand and meant a decrease of 2.6%.
In both cases it is about the less tourist movement in a fit of summer of the last three years.
The terminal of The Capes handled 688 thousand passengers, 4.6% less, and it was the lowest traffic since 2022, according to the most recent data from the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC).
Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos concentrate two thirds of all tourism international that arrives in the country.
He Verum aviation sector analyst, Jonathan Félixhe said that the Volaris fleet realignment It ends up impacting national destinations, since the airline prefers to use planes whose engines are not being inspected in the international market, that is, in the United States and Central America, where it can receive greater income.
Sad summer for Mexican beaches, how do airlines influence?
Table of Contents
- 1 Sad summer for Mexican beaches, how do airlines influence?
- 2 Airline route reshuffling affects tourist destinations in Mexico
- 3 Domestic passengers decrease due to smaller fleet and international passengers due to “destination fatigue” – what is it?
- 4 Do you prefer Europe because of the insecurity in Mexico?
- 5 European tourism falls for the second consecutive year
- 6 Reduced supply of seats due to lack of planes in the face of high demand makes tickets more expensive
- 7 Is the water warmer in Cancun or Puerto Vallarta
“In July, the Cancun airport has reduced its operations and perhaps it has to do with the fact that there are many airline flights there and Volaris and Viva Aerobus, with smaller fleets, They prefer to go to more profitable routes where there is not much competition,” he explained in an interview.
“Now, This happened in the middle of the holiday season. Volaris has decided to focus its fleet on the international market in the face of the situation of having to have engines checked and given maintenance, and the national market is in second place, where they will later add capacity again,” added Félix.
Late last year, Pratt & Whitney announced that the GTF engine could have problems because the metal used to manufacture it could cause cracks in the high-pressure turbine discs, so a recall was made for around a thousand engines during 2024 and 2025 from several airlines, including Volaris and Viva Aerobus.
To deal with this situation, Viva Aerobus decided to sublease aircraft from a Maltese airline, including crew, so its operations have been less affected. However, Volaris had 26 units grounded during the first half of the year due to this situation.
Airline route reshuffling affects tourist destinations in Mexico
Although Volaris’ route rearrangement affects only domestic passenger traffic, theInternational ones are also growing at a slower pacebecause this summer the Americans they chose to travel to Europe.
Domestic passengers decrease due to smaller fleet and international passengers due to “destination fatigue” – what is it?
The director of the Sustainable Tourism Advanced Research Center (STARC) of the Anáhuac University Cancún, Francisco Madrid, agreed that the Domestic passengers have decreased by a smaller fleet of Volaris aircraft, but Internationals are declining due to something defined as “destination fatigue”, which is when foreign tourists prefer to fly to Europe or Asia instead of places like Cancun, Los Cabos or Puerto Vallarta.
“The national market has a different dynamic than the international one. The The drop in domestic passenger traffic is exclusively due to the Volaris issuebut the international has to do with the fatigue of destiny,” he commented.
“A very important part of the tourism that comes to Mexico is from the United States, 65%, and in the summer in particular its market share decreased significantly, because Americans preferred to travel mainly to Europe“, explained the former federal Undersecretary of Tourism.
Do you prefer Europe because of the insecurity in Mexico?
The analysts did not explain that, but it is well known that in much of the territory in Mexico there are disputes between antagonistic groups of organized crimeas a report by AC Consultants reveals the map of drug cartels in frank expansion by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Sinaloa Cartel in recent years, during the administration of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
However, in the opinion of Francisco Madridsays that the drop in passengers is because this year They opened destinations that were closed during the pandemic and there was also a lot of interest in sporting events such as the Olympics in France and the European Championship in Germany.
Mexico’s share of the U.S. tourism market fell from 18% to 16% this year, while Europe’s share remained at 34%, according to an analysis by STARC.
The Barometer of Long-haul travel for this summer, which was drawn up by the European Commission for Travel and Tourism, revealed that 45% of travelers consider security to be the main attribute looking for a destination, higher than a year ago, when the rate was 39%.
Mexico does not have good security results in terms of the perception of travelers,In addition, there is a need to invest and strengthen the security of the sites, improve the infrastructure and promote direct connectivity by plane, as well as tourism promotion, Gemes explained.
European tourism falls for the second consecutive year
The country lost European tourists again this summer due to international competition, the perception of insecurity, the lack of promotion and the difficult economic situation that the Old Continent is going through.
Mexican airports received a total of 150,000 passengers from Europe in July, after serving 167,000 in the same month in 2023 and 188,000 two years ago, according to data from the Ministry of the Interior.
The United Kingdom is the fourth largest country in terms of tourist arrivals, behind only the United States, Canada and Colombia. However, at the start of this holiday season there was a 14% drop despite the appreciation of the pound, which exceeded 26 Mexican pesos last week for the first time in more than two years.
France and Spain are also in the top 10 of the main issuing markets, but arrivals fell by 12% and 6.2%, respectively. Russia stands out, whose tourists require a visa to enter Mexico and whose arrivals plummeted by 64%, facing sanctions imposed by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and other nations since 2022 in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
Mexico enjoyed an advantage during the years of the Covid-19 pandemic when international competition was reduced, but it is gradually returning to normal, according to a report by Grupo Empresarial Estrategia (Gemes).
Europeans are also facing a difficult economic situation due to high energy prices and other events arising from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The International Monetary Fund estimates that the gross domestic product of the countries that share the euro will expand by 0.9% this year, after growing just 0.5% in 2023.
Reduced supply of seats due to lack of planes in the face of high demand makes tickets more expensive
According to Felix, Viva Aerobus raised its rate by 45% average in dollars during the first half compared to the previous year, while Volaris increased the base price per passenger by 9.4%.
Considered the country’s leading airline by user traffic, Volaris expects to receive compensation of Pratt & Whitney based on the estimate of aircraft that will remain grounded for preventive engine inspection.
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2024-09-10 16:28:23
Is the water warmer in Cancun or Puerto Vallarta
Mexican Beach Destinations Face Slowest Summer Holiday Season in Three Years
The Mexican beach destinations of Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, and Los Cabos are experiencing their slowest summer holiday season in three years, with a significant decline in tourist arrivals. According to recent data, Cancun airport received 2.6 million users in July, a 14.1% decrease compared to the same month last year. Puerto Vallarta airport saw a 2.6% decrease in passenger traffic, while Los Cabos airport handled 688,000 passengers, a 4.6% decrease and the lowest traffic since 2022.
Volaris Fleet Realignment and International Travel Trends Impact Tourism
The decline in tourist arrivals is attributed to the rearrangement of Volaris’ fleet, which has led to a reduction in domestic passenger traffic. Volaris, an ultra-low-cost airline [1], has decided to focus its fleet on the international market, where it can receive greater income, rather than allocating planes to national destinations. This decision has resulted in a decrease in domestic passenger traffic, affecting major beach destinations in Mexico.
Additionally, international passengers are declining due to “destination fatigue,” a phenomenon where foreign tourists prefer to fly to Europe or Asia instead of popular Mexican destinations like Cancun, Los Cabos, or Puerto Vallarta. This trend is attributed to travelers seeking new and different experiences, rather than visiting the same familiar places.
Airlines’ Smaller Fleets and Engine Maintenance Affect Operations
Volaris and Viva Aerobus, another low-cost airline, have smaller fleets due to engine maintenance issues. Late last year, Pratt & Whitney announced that the GTF engine could have problems, leading to a recall of around a thousand engines from several airlines, including Volaris and Viva Aerobus. Viva Aerobus has managed to mitigate the impact by subleasing aircraft from a Maltese airline, while Volaris has had 26 units grounded during the first half of the year.
Expert Insights and Future Outlook
Jonathan Félix, an aviation sector analyst from Verum, explained that Volaris’ fleet realignment has led to a decrease in domestic passenger traffic, as the airline prioritizes more profitable international routes. Francisco Madrid, director of the Sustainable Tourism Advanced Research Center (STARC) of the Anáhuac University Cancún, agrees that the smaller fleet of Volaris aircraft has led to a decrease in domestic passengers, while international passengers are declining due to “destination fatigue.”
The outlook for the Mexican beach destinations remains uncertain, as the airline industry continues to adjust to changing travel trends and engine maintenance issues. However, it is essential for tourism stakeholders to adapt to these changes and develop strategies to revitalize the sector.
Travel Tips and Recommendations
If you’re planning to visit Mexico’s beach destinations, consider the following tips:
Book your flights and accommodations in advance to ensure availability and get the best deals.
Research and explore alternative destinations in Mexico that may offer better value and a more authentic experience.
* Consider traveling during the off-season or during non-peak periods to avoid crowds and take advantage of lower prices.
the slowdown in Mexico’s beach destinations is a result of a combination of factors, including airline fleet realignment, international travel trends, and engine maintenance issues. While the sector faces challenges, there are opportunities for tourism stakeholders to adapt and innovate, ensuring the continued growth and development of Mexico’s tourism industry.
