JetBlue's Tulum nonstops: Airline is latest to add flights to Mexico's newest airport
Add JetBlue to the U.S. airline industry's rush to Tulum.
The carrier will begin flying next year to Mexico's brand-new Tulum International Airport (TQO), launching nonstop flights from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on June 13.
JetBlue will fly one daily round-trip flight on the following schedule:
- B6 Flight 2879: Departs JFK at 7:55 a.m., and arrives to Tulum at 11:15 a.m. (all times local)
- B6 Flight 2880: Departs Tulum at 12:45 p.m., and arrives to New York at 5:55 p.m. (all times local)
The new TQO airport welcomed its first flights Dec. 1, when Mexican carriers launched a smattering of domestic routes to the Riviera Maya resort region.
U.S. airlines later joined the rush, with American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Spirit Airlines and United Airlines all announcing their own flights to Tulum — most of which launch this spring. Adding to the mix is Air Canada, which also announced its own nonstops Thursday, saying it would fly there from its hubs in Toronto and Montreal.
Related reading:
- Delta becomes 1st US airline to announce Tulum flights
- Spirit adds 2 routes to Tulum, becomes 2nd US carrier to add airport
- American unveils 4 new flights to Tulum, proposes new Tokyo service and more
- United Airlines adds 4 routes to Tulum, joins rush to new Riviera Maya airport
- Air Canada adds 5 new routes, 2 destinations — including Tulum
Previously, travelers heading to Tulum or other destinations along Mexico's southern Caribbean coast had to fly into Cancun International Airport (CUN) and arrange car or bus transportation. Tulum's beach area sits about 75 miles south of CUN, taking up to two hours to reach in frequently heavy traffic.
Now, U.S. travelers will be able to fly directly to Tulum's own airport, which also sits near other Riveria Maya destinations like Akumal, Puerto Aventuras and the Sian Ka'an Biosphere.
JetBlue and its U.S. rivals will maintain a heavy presence at CUN, which has solidified its spot as one of the top international destinations for U.S. travelers since the pandemic. However, JetBlue and others are now hoping to capture the demand from travelers interested in the region closer to TQO.
"With the new international airport in Tulum, we are able to bring our customers where they want to go, arriving and departing in a brand new, modern, and convenient airport facility while offering the great service and low fares JetBlue is known for," David Jehn, JetBlue's vice president, network planning and airline partnerships, said in a statement announcing the new service.
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