Los Cabos Continues to Expand Air Connectivity

It’s no accident that Los Cabos has become one of the fastest-growing destinations in Latin America.

Because of its remote location at the tip of a nearly 1,000-mile-long peninsula, air connectivity is a vital lifeline to Cabo’s prime tourism markets. In fact, the region couldn’t attract a projected 4+ million visitors this year, a 5% increase over 2024, without superior air connectivity.

Success is never random. For the past 20-plus years, the Los Cabos Tourism Board (FITURCA) and other government entities have lobbied, cajoled and recruited major air carriers to establish routes to Los Cabos. The hard work has paid off.

As recently as 2016, Los Angeles was by far the largest tourism market for Los Cabos. Many like to joke that Cabo is almost like a suburb of Los Angeles, given the presence of so many Angelenos. But over the past decade, the Tourism Board and its partners have made a concerted effort to diversify their tourism sources by going global.

For example, Rodrigo Esponda, FITURCA’s general director, attended Routes World 2025 held in Hong Kong in September to reinforce its leadership role in promoting the destination. Esponda met international air carriers and airport authorities aimed at expanding air connectivity—and boosting tourism growth.

Discussions reportedly focused on consolidating or expanding routes that ease access to Los Cabos for both domestic and international travelers. In the past five years, 22 new domestic and international routes from both established and emerging markets have been established. The Tourism Board continues to spearhead efforts to expand connectivity and introduce Los Cabos to new travelers around the globe. 

“Our participation in Routes World 2025 is key to maintaining and expanding the air connectivity that drives the economic and tourism development of Los Cabos,” Esponda stated. “We continue to work determinedly to connect the destination with strategic markets, guaranteeing unique experiences for visitors and strengthening our global position.”

Among the most recent developments: new direct flights from Frankfurt (Germany) and Panama (the “Hub of the Americas”), set to begin in December. Plans also include expansion into major global hubs such as Istanbul and Dubai, each an emerging tourism market. New routes from U.S. cities are also being contemplated, from Boston (where demand is high despite the lack of direct service) and a few key gateways in Florida.

Currently, the airport is managed via a 50-year concession granted to Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP). “Under the latter’s stewardship, Los Cabos International Airport has become the sixth busiest in the country, servicing upwards of 20,000 passengers a day on average,” a recent Mexico News Daily report stated. “That volume is expected to double over the next decade, thanks to ongoing expansions and upgrades.”

What’s next? Tourism pundits believe air routes will one day be opened to Africa, Asia, and Australia. However, lest one think Los Cabos has forgotten its roots, approximately 200,000 passengers from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) are expected to visit in the next six months, still more than any other U.S. gateway.