As Puerto Vallarta continues recovering from the impact of the February 22 events, the city’s international airport is helping drive tourism growth through expanded air connectivity and major infrastructure improvements ahead of the 2026 summer and winter travel seasons.
During the 2026 Advisory Commission session held May 20 at a hotel near Marina Vallarta, airport administrator Omar Gildardo Torres Grajeda said the Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport remains focused on strengthening routes and improving passenger service despite a temporary slowdown earlier this year.
Airport data showed declines in operations and passenger totals during March and April compared to the same months in 2025. However, Torres Grajeda said traffic is expected to normalize this month, with June figures potentially surpassing last year’s numbers.
He stressed that no routes were lost during the slowdown, only flight frequencies were adjusted. In fact, the airport has already confirmed eight new routes for 2026, including three domestic and five international connections.
Among the new domestic routes operated by Volaris are connections to Puebla, Aguascalientes, and San Luis Potosí. The Puerto Vallarta–Puebla route will launch June 2 with three weekly flights, while Aguascalientes will offer three weekly frequencies and San Luis Potosí four per week. Southwest Airlines will begin new service between Puerto Vallarta and Las Vegas on June 6 with two weekly flights.
Additional international routes are planned for the upcoming high season. On November 3, Canadian carrier Porter Airlines will launch service between Puerto Vallarta and Edmonton with three weekly flights. Then, on December 10, Air Canada will begin a new route to Calgary, also with three weekly departures. Southwest already added service to San Diego and St. Louis in March.
With these additions, Puerto Vallarta International Airport will reach 54 active domestic and international connections, reinforcing its role as one of Mexico’s leading beach tourism gateways.
Currently, 17 airlines operate in Puerto Vallarta, with carriers continuing to expand service and increase frequencies as confidence in the destination and airport infrastructure grows.
The airport is also advancing major expansion projects, including the New Terminal Building, which is now 71 percent complete. Once finished, the terminal will significantly increase passenger capacity and support projected tourism growth in the coming years.
Torres Grajeda noted that the airport set a historic record in 2025, welcoming nearly 7 million passengers and recording more than 67,000 flight operations. Through April 2026, the airport had already served 2.5 million travelers, with international visitors representing more than 60 percent of total traffic.
The Pacific Airport Group, Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, reiterated its commitment to expanding connectivity, modernizing facilities, and improving passenger services as Puerto Vallarta continues strengthening its position as a top international tourism destination.
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