Flying to Mexico

General Information

With over a thousand airports and airfields, Mexico ranks third in the world for air transport infrastructure. While not all handle regular flights, every major city has its own airport, with at least one connection to the capital—and larger cities often have direct flights to the USA. In short, air travel is well-established across the country, and whether directly or via Mexico City, reaching almost any corner of this vast nation is rarely difficult.

In terms of traffic, around fifty airports handle over 100,000 passengers annually, forty exceed 500,000, and two dozen surpass the million mark. Mexico City leads by a wide margin (45 million passengers in 2025), followed by Cancun (30 million), Guadalajara (19 million), Monterrey (16 million), and Tijuana (13 million). The airports serving the beach resorts of Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta are also busy, each welcoming over 5 million passengers per year.

Local Airlines

Mexico’s strong airport network is matched by a range of airlines, though most focus on domestic routes and, secondarily, flights to neighboring countries or the USA. Around twenty carriers operate, with Aeromexico being the most prominent.

Aeromexico, the national airline and a SkyTeam Alliance member (alongside Air France), operates from its Mexico City hub. Together with its subsidiary Aeromexico Connect (based in Monterrey), it serves over a hundred destinations—roughly half within Mexico, many in the USA, several in Latin America, a few in Europe, plus China and Tokyo.

Two other key players, Volaris and Viva, are low-cost carriers offering extensive domestic routes, flights to the USA, and other regional destinations, often at competitive prices.

Scheduled, Charter, and Low-Cost Flights

Mexico’s air travel market mirrors Europe’s diversity. Major airlines serve Mexico City and other key cities, while smaller carriers handle secondary routes. Low-cost options are common domestically and on high-traffic regional routes, particularly from secondary airports near major urban areas (like Toluca instead of Mexico City). Charter and seasonal flights also operate from various countries—and even from Mexican cities—to Cancun and Pacific coast resorts.

Which City to Land In?

From Canada and especially the USA, travelers have abundant direct-flight options to numerous Mexican cities. The situation differs for those arriving from Europe.

Depending on your final destination, you may opt for a flight via the US for more choices or connect through Mexico City with a partner airline or a low-cost carrier. If you plan to explore a large part of the country, consider an open-jaw ticket (arriving in one city and departing from another).

From France and Europe

Mexico is well-connected to Europe, with direct flights from around ten countries to Mexico City and Cancun, plus seasonal routes to Cancun and, occasionally, Pacific coast resorts.

From France

Aeromexico and Air France offer direct flights from Paris-CDG to Mexico City, while Air France and Air Caraïbes serve Cancun. Prices range from 700 to 1,000 € round-trip, with flight times of roughly 11–12 hours. No direct flights operate from other French cities to Mexico.

While direct flights are available from Paris, most options involve layovers in Madrid, London, Frankfurt, or North America—typically at lower prices due to the connections.

Choosing Your Flight

Price is a key factor, but consider flight duration and, if transiting through the US, the added requirements. Compare options based on these criteria. Also, think about where it’s best to land based on your itinerary—an open-jaw ticket (arriving and departing from different cities) might be the smartest choice.

Like for Dominican Republic or Cuba, all-inclusive or "flight + hotel" packages can be a cost-effective option. Year-round deals, primarily for Cancun and the Riviera Maya, are often available through travel agencies, sometimes at prices nearly identical to a standalone flight. Ideal for short week-long trips.

One last note: prices for Mexico tend to spike during holiday periods, often exceeding 1,000 € round-trip—about 50% more than off-season rates.

From the Americas

Canada

After the USA, Canada has the best air connections to Mexico, primarily through seasonal flights to Cancun and Pacific coast resorts.

Montreal: Cancun (Air Canada + Air Transat + WestJet), Mexico City (Aeromexico + Air Canada). Seasonal flights to tourist destinations like Acapulco, Cozumel, Huatulco, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Los Cabos, and Puerto Vallarta are also available with various carriers.

Quebec City: Cancun (Air Transat + WestJet) and Puerto Vallarta (Air Transat), mostly seasonal.

Toronto: Cancun (Air Canada + Air Transat + WestJet), Mexico City (Aeromexico). Seasonal flights to Acapulco, Cozumel, Huatulco, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Los Cabos, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta with various airlines.

Ottawa, Halifax, and a dozen other Canadian cities also offer seasonal flights to popular destinations like Cancun, Huatulco, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, and Los Cabos.

United States

The USA has the most extensive air links to Mexico, reflecting strong travel demand, close bilateral ties, and the large Mexican diaspora. Nearly every major Mexican city has at least one flight to the US, particularly to Texas or California, operated by Mexican or American carriers. Seasonal and charter flights are common for tourist destinations.

Central America and the Caribbean

Belize: Cancun (MayaAir + Tropic Air), Merida (Tropic Air).

Costa Rica: Cancun (Avianca CR), Mexico City (Aeromexico + Avianca CR + Interjet).

Cuba: Cancun (Aeromexico + Cubana), Merida (Aerocaribbean + Interjet), Mexico City (Aeromexico + Cubana + Interjet).

El Salvador: Cancun (Avianca ES), Mexico City (Aeromexico + Avianca ES).

Guatemala: Cancun (TAG for Flores), Mexico City (Aeromexico + Interjet).

Honduras: Mexico City (Aeromexico).

Nicaragua: Mexico City (Aeromexico).

Panama: Cancun (Copa), Guadalajara (Copa), Monterrey (Copa), Mexico City (Aeromexico + Copa), Puebla (Copa), Villahermosa (Copa).

Latin America

Argentina: Cancun (Aerolineas), Mexico City (Aeromexico).

Brazil: Cancun (TAM), Mexico City (Aeromexico + TAM).

Chile: Cancun (LAN), Mexico City (Aeromexico + LAN).

Colombia: Cancun (Avianca + Copa + LAN), Mexico City (Avianca + Aeromexico + Copa + Interjet).

Ecuador: Mexico City (Aeromexico).

Peru: Cancun (LAN), Mexico City (Aeromexico + Avianca Peru).

Venezuela: Mexico City (Aeromexico).

From Elsewhere

Mexico also has flights to and from China, South Korea, Japan, and Dubai, operated by Aeromexico or airlines from those countries.