Mérida's Electric Ie-Tram Finally Heads to the Airport

Travelers arriving at Mérida’s international airport are about to have a new way to get downtown — one that’s fully electric, air-conditioned, and part of the city’s expanding public transit network.

Yucatán’s state transit authority, known as ATY (Agencia de Transporte de Yucatán), announced this week that a dedicated Airport Route will launch April 14, operating with Ie-Tram electric buses and connecting the Manuel Crescencio Rejón International Airport with key points throughout the city. The new service will be the first tourist-oriented route within the Va-Y-Ven transit subsystem.

The route will link the airport with several central landmarks, including Plaza Grande, Santa Ana park, Gran Parque La Plancha, the Centro Internacional de Congresos, and stops throughout the Centro Histórico.

The fare is MX$45 (roughly US$2.25), payable by bank card, Va-Y-Ven smart card, or a single-use QR ticket. ATY said a new-generation Va-Y-Ven smart kiosk has already been installed inside the airport terminal, where travelers can purchase or reload a card on arrival. Riders with student or senior discounts will qualify for reduced fares, and passengers with disabilities can ride free with a valid credential.

The Ie-Tram fleet is manufactured by the Spanish company Irizar and runs entirely on lithium-ion batteries. Each bus can carry up to 105 passengers and has a range of up to 350 kilometers on a single charge. The vehicles include Wi-Fi, USB charging ports, wheelchair ramps, and air conditioning. Mérida is the first city in Mexico to operate a fully electric bus rapid transit system.

The Va-Y-Ven network — the name loosely translates to “come and go” — has grown steadily since its launch in late 2021 as a replacement for the city’s aging and often unreliable urban bus fleet. The Va-Y-Ven buses are comfortable, air-conditioned, and represent a significant improvement over what came before. The Ie-Tram lines were added starting in December 2023, when the first corridor opened between Gran Parque La Plancha and the Tren Maya station in Teya, on the city’s eastern edge. Today, the network includes five main Ie-Tram lines, with routes extending toward Kanasín, Umán, and other surrounding municipalities.

For visitors, the system has historically required some navigation. Until now, getting a Va-Y-Ven card meant either finding a kiosk, downloading the app with a Mexican phone number, or tracking down a participating convenience store. The new airport kiosk is a direct response to that gap — and signals that officials are increasingly aware the system needs to work for tourists, not just daily commuters.

Mérida has seen a sharp rise in both tourism and foreign residents in recent years, driven in part by remote work trends and the city’s growing reputation as a livable, relatively affordable destination. Improved transit infrastructure has become a selling point, with the Ie-Tram and Va-Y-Ven network frequently cited as examples of forward-looking urban planning. The Tren Maya connection, which allows Ie-Tram riders to transfer to intercity rail service toward Chichén Itzá, Izamal, Cancún, and beyond, adds another layer of utility for visitors who want to explore the Peninsula without renting a car.

Fast Facts: Mérida Airport Ie-Tram Route

Launch date: April 14, 2026
Operated by: ATY (Agencia de Transporte de Yucatán) / Va-Y-Ven system
Vehicle type: Ie-Tram 100% electric bus, manufactured by Irizar (Spain)
General fare: MX$45 (approx. US$2.25)
Payment options: Bank card, Va-Y-Ven smart card, or single-use QR ticket
Discounted fares: Available for students and seniors
Free rides: Passengers with disabilities (with credential)
Smart card kiosk: Installed inside the airport terminal
Key stops: Aeropuerto Internacional de Mérida, Santa Ana Park, Plaza Grande, Gran Parque La Plancha, Centro Internacional de Congresos, Centro Histórico
App: Va-Y-Ven app available for iOS and Android (Mexican phone number required for digital card)

Sources: Diario de Yucatán, Wikipedia (Ie-Tram Yucatán)