More visitors from the Arabian Peninsula are expected soon in Cancún
Qatar Airways has announced plans to resume flights to Mexico City, with connections to Cancún, starting in 2025. This marks a significant milestone for Mexico, opening doors to new tourism markets in the Arabian Peninsula, according to local industry leaders.
This new connection to Cancún would be Qatar Airways’ first direct entry into the Mexican market.
Esús Almaguer Salazar, president of the Hotel Association of Cancún, Puerto Morelos, and Isla Mujeres, emphasized the importance of this development. “We had a meeting with airline executives in conjunction with the Tourism Promotion Council of Quintana Roo and Sedetur, and the possibility of opening the route was confirmed. This is excellent news for attracting visitors from Eastern Europe and Asia,” Almaguer stated.
“From the Mexican Caribbean, we continue working to bring more tourists to the region,” he added.
To accommodate these travelers, local hotels must adjust menus and schedules to meet the preferences of this high-spending demographic, he said.
Qatar Airways currently boasts the most extensive international network of any airline, serving 90 countries with approximately 170 connections. While the airline has no existing routes in Latin America, it operates flights to São Paulo, Brazil, after previously flying to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The announcement also highlights the competitive landscape among Middle Eastern airlines. Emirates, Qatar Airways’ primary rival in the Persian Gulf, operates flights to Mexico City, Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Bogotá (via Miami). Similarly, Turkish Airlines connects Mexico City and Cancún to Istanbul, with further routes to South America, including São Paulo, Santiago, and Buenos Aires.
Meanwhile, Etihad Airways, another major Gulf carrier based in Abu Dhabi, has yet to establish routes to Latin America.
The planned Qatar Airways route will introduce three weekly flights to Cancún International Airport, starting in 2025. Local tourism officials see this as a historic opportunity to position Cancún in untapped global markets and strengthen its appeal as a leading international destination.
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