Spirit Announces 2 Direct Routes to Tulum Ahead of Airport Opening

The airline will launch flights to Tulum from Orlando and Fort Lauderdale in March.

As the opening of Tulum’s new airport is on the horizon, Spirit Airlines is the latest to announce its service to the new hub from the U.S.

The low-cost airline will launch once-daily flights from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Orlando (MCO) on March 28, 2024 to Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport (TQO), Spirit announced last week. The new routes will make Tulum the fifth city that the airline serves in Mexico, following Cancun (CUN), Cabo San Lucas (SJD), Monterrey (MTY), and Puerto Vallarta (PVR).

Tickets are on sale on Spirit’s website for as low as $149 one-way, though they’re marked as “subject to government approval.” Spirit will use an Airbus A320 for its inaugural flights, which can seat 182 passengers.

"Our direct flights from Florida will make a getaway to Mexico's enchanting coastline more accessible than ever, just in time for spring break," John Kirby, Vice President of Network Planning at Spirit Airlines said of the announcment. "We have a long history of serving Mexico, and Tulum's new airport is a great addition that will make it easier for our guests to get to the city and enjoy its beaches, history, and variety of unique experiences."

The announcement comes nearly two weeks after Delta Air Lines announced its intended route to Tulum from its mega-hub at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). However, Spirit will become the first ultra-low-cost carrier to launch nonstop routes to the new airport, which is about 65 percent complete as of September 2023.

A day before Spirit announced the new route, the ultra-low-cost carrier also reported a $157.6-million dollar net loss in its Q3 earning call, citing softer demand for its products and discounted fares. Additionally, the proposed JetBlue-Spirit merger has been on trial since October 16, 2023.  If approved, the merger would give the combined airlines a larger share of these key Florida markets.

“Given these continued trends, we are evaluating our growth profile and our competitive position,” CEO Ted Christie said. “We have already taken the first steps by modifying the cadence of our aircraft deliveries through the end of the decade and slowing our capacity growth in the near term.”

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