Snowbirds in Yucatán Again as Toronto Flight Touches Down

Yucatán’s winter tourism season officially began Monday when a WestJet flight from Toronto landed at Mérida International Airport, marking the earliest start to snowbird season in years.

The inaugural flight arrived with 130 passengers, filling 76% of the Boeing 737’s 174 seats.

The season isn’t just starting earlier, it’s lasting longer. This is the first time the winter flight schedule has started in October rather than November, with service continuing through May 19 instead of the traditional April cutoff.

“Recovering this route is a big deal for Mérida,” said Darío Flota Ocampo, head of Yucatán’s tourism ministry. “Canadians have long had a special affection for our city and state.”

The extended season comes at a pivotal moment for Mexican destinations. A recent survey found that only 26% of Canadians plan to winter in the United States this year, a 37% drop from 2024. Among those 61 and older — the core snowbird demographic — just 10% intend to head south of the border, according to CP24 reports.

Mexico and the Caribbean are picking up much of that slack. New U.S. entry requirements, rising costs and political tensions have pushed many snowbirds to look elsewhere for their winter escape.

WestJet’s Toronto-Mérida route will start slowly and ramp up as winter deepens. Through Nov. 9, flights operate once weekly on Tuesdays. The schedule increases to twice weekly through mid-December, then expands to three flights per week — Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays — from Dec. 15 through early April.

The airline resumed service to Mérida in 2021 after a pandemic pause, and the route has proven popular with both tourists and the estimated 7,000 foreign residents who call Yucatán’s Gulf Coast home during winter months.

But WestJet isn’t the only carrier betting on growing demand. Mexican airline Viva will launch a weekly Los Angeles-Mérida flight on Dec. 14, operating through Jan. 11 to capture holiday travel. The route will return permanently in the second half of 2026, giving West Coast travelers a new direct option year-round.

The expanded air service reflects broader momentum in Yucatán’s tourism sector. The state logged an 11% increase in overnight visitors during the first seven months of 2025 compared to the previous year, emerging as one of Mexico’s strongest-performing destinations.

Tourism officials credit coordination between government and private sector partners for strengthening the state’s international appeal. The early season launch and longer operating window signal growing confidence from airlines that Yucatán can draw visitors beyond the traditional winter window.

For Canadian snowbirds, that’s welcome news. Many had grown accustomed to the convenience of direct flights before the pandemic disrupted travel patterns. The return of reliable air service makes it easier to maintain the seasonal lifestyle that has become tradition for thousands of retirees.

The timing also helps Yucatán’s economy, which relies heavily on tourism revenue. After the pandemic devastated the hospitality sector, each expansion of international connectivity helps support hotels, restaurants and the cultural attractions that draw visitors.

Whether the trend continues depends partly on economic factors beyond anyone’s control — exchange rates, fuel costs and the overall health of North American economies. But for now, the message from airlines and tourism officials is clear: winter in Yucatán starts earlier and lasts longer than it used to.

If You’re a Snowbird

WestJet operates Toronto-Mérida flights Tuesdays through Nov. 9, then adds Thursday flights through Dec. 14
Peak service runs Dec. 15-April 5 with Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday departures
Mérida International Airport (MID) is located about 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the city center
Canadians can stay in Mexico up to 180 days on a tourist visa
Average winter temperatures in Mérida range from 68-86°F (20-30°C)