Mexico has several international airports spread across a large country, and where you fly into depends entirely on your itinerary. Mexico City and Cancun handle the most international traffic, but Guadalajara, Monterrey, Los Cabos, and Puerto Vallarta are also well-served, particularly from North America.
Major International Airports
Mexico City (MEX)
Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juarez is the main airport, located in the city’s eastern district. Two terminals connected by a free monorail. Terminal 1 handles Aeromexico, Delta, Air France, KLM, and most international carriers. Terminal 2 serves Volaris, VivaAerobus, and some Aeromexico flights.
Flight times: approximately 11 hours from London, 5 hours from New York, 4.5 hours from Los Angeles, 10 hours from Madrid.
Getting to the city centre: Authorized airport taxi vouchers cost approximately MXN $250–400 to central neighbourhoods (Roma, Condesa, Polanco) as of 2026. Uber and DiDi run MXN $150–250. Metrobus Line 4 costs MXN $30 from Terminal 1 to Buenavista - cheap but slow in rush hour.
A second airport, AIFA (Felipe Angeles, code: NLU), opened in 2022 about 60 km north of the city. It handles mainly domestic routes and limited regional international flights. Allow 90–120 minutes to reach the city centre from AIFA. Check which airport your flight uses before booking ground transport.
Cancun (CUN)
Mexico’s busiest airport for international leisure traffic. Direct flights arrive from across North America, Europe, and South America. Four terminals - most international flights land at Terminal 3 or Terminal 4.
Flight times: approximately 10 hours from London, 3.5 hours from New York, 4.5 hours from Los Angeles, 10 hours from Madrid.
Onward transport: ADO buses run from the airport to Playa del Carmen (approximately MXN $150–250, 1 hour), Tulum (approximately MXN $200–350, 2 hours), and Merida (approximately MXN $400–650, 4.5 hours). Authorized taxis to the Cancun Hotel Zone cost approximately MXN $500–800.
Guadalajara (GDL)
Gateway to western Mexico, Jalisco, and the Tequila region. Direct flights from Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Chicago, and San Francisco. Located 30 minutes south of the city centre - taxi approximately MXN $300–500.
Los Cabos (SJD)
Serves the Baja California resort area. Heavily connected from California and the US southwest. Most arrivals are resort-bound with pre-arranged transfers.
Puerto Vallarta (PVR)
Direct flights from many US and Canadian cities. Popular winter sun destination from the Pacific Northwest and western Canada. Located 15 minutes north of the hotel zone.
Airlines Serving Mexico
From the US and Canada
Full-service: United (Houston, Newark, Denver, LAX), American (Dallas, Miami, Chicago), Delta (Atlanta, LAX, JFK), Alaska (Seattle, LAX to Cabo and Puerto Vallarta), Air Canada (Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver).
Budget: Southwest flies to Cancun, Cabo, and Puerto Vallarta. Frontier and Spirit serve Cancun from multiple US cities. VivaAerobus and Volaris (Mexican budget carriers) have expanded significantly with US routes - flights from Texas, California, and Florida often undercut US majors by 30–50%.
From the UK and Europe
British Airways: London Heathrow to Mexico City (daily) and Cancun (seasonal). Flight time approximately 11–12 hours.
Iberia: Madrid to Mexico City and Cancun (daily). Often the best-value European connection.
Air France: Paris CDG to Mexico City. Lufthansa: Frankfurt to Mexico City. KLM: Amsterdam, typically with a connection.
TUI: Seasonal charters from Manchester, Birmingham, and Glasgow to Cancun.
Connecting options: US carriers (United via Houston, American via Dallas/Miami, Delta via Atlanta) offer connections from London and European cities with a US stop - this can sometimes be cheaper than direct European flights.
Mexican Carriers
Aeromexico is the flag carrier with the widest international network and strong domestic coverage. Volaris and VivaAerobus are budget airlines with extensive domestic networks - significantly cheaper than Aeromexico when booked in advance, but they charge separately for checked baggage, seat selection, and sometimes carry-on bags.
When to Book for the Best Deals
Most expensive periods: Christmas and New Year (December 15–January 5), US spring break (March), and Easter/Semana Santa (March–April). Book 3–4 months ahead for these windows.
Cheapest months: May, June, September, and October - rainy season in southern Mexico and hurricane season on the Caribbean coast suppress demand. Fares drop 25–40% compared to peak.
Sweet spot: Book 6–10 weeks in advance for most international routes. The 8-week mark typically delivers the best balance of availability and price.
Flexible dates: Shifting departure by 1–2 days can save USD $100–200 on transatlantic routes. Mid-week departures (Tuesday, Wednesday) are consistently cheaper than weekends.
Domestic Flights Within Mexico
Mexico has an extensive domestic flight network. Aeromexico, VivaAerobus, and Volaris connect Mexico City to Oaxaca (1 hour), Merida (2 hours), Tuxtla Gutierrez for San Cristobal (1.5 hours), Huatulco (1 hour), and dozens of other cities. Domestic one-way fares booked in advance run approximately MXN $600–2,000 (USD $30–100 as of 2026).
ADO first-class buses are the practical alternative for routes under 6–7 hours - Mexico City to Puebla (2 hours, MXN $250–350), Mexico City to Oaxaca (6–7 hours, MXN $600–900), and Cancun to Playa del Carmen or Tulum.
Open-Jaw Routing
For itineraries covering different regions - the Yucatan coast plus Mexico City, or Mexico City plus the Pacific - consider flying into one airport and out of another. Flying into Cancun and out of Mexico City (or vice versa) avoids backtracking and is often the same price as a return. Compare both options on Aviasales.
Budget Tips
- May and September offer the best fare-to-weather balance - prices are low, and while rain falls (usually short afternoon storms), most of Mexico remains travelable
- Mexican budget airlines charge for everything beyond a personal item - pre-book checked bags online where it is cheaper than at the airport
- Iberia via Madrid is frequently the cheapest European routing to both Mexico City and Cancun
- Book domestic connections separately from your international flight - Mexican budget carriers are often 50% cheaper than booking the domestic leg through your international airline
- Airport departure tax (approximately MXN $1,200–1,500 as of 2026) is usually included in your ticket price but occasionally collected separately on charter flights
All prices are approximate as of 2026 and subject to change.
Related City Guides
- Mexico City Travel Guide
- Cancún Travel Guide
- Puerto Vallarta Travel Guide
- Tulum Travel Guide
- Playa del Carmen Travel Guide
- Oaxaca City Travel Guide
- Guadalajara Travel Guide
- Mérida Travel Guide
- Los Cabos Travel Guide
Ready to Plan Your Trip?
See our itineraries for inspiration:
- 1 Week Mexico - one week covering Mexico City, Oaxaca and the beach
- 10 Days Mexico - ten days from the capital to the Caribbean
- 2 Weeks Mexico - the two-week Mexico circuit
- Budget Mexico Itinerary - a full Mexico trip on a budget