Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – While the summer months typically bring a surge in tourism to the popular coastal destination, August 2024 saw a slight dip in passenger traffic at the Puerto Vallarta International Airport. Despite this temporary setback, the overall trend for the year remains positive, reflecting the city’s enduring appeal as a vacation hotspot.
Although the airport recorded a modest 5.9% decrease in passenger traffic compared to the previous year, it outperformed several other major Mexican airports. In fact, the Puerto Vallarta International Airport remained the only major national airport in the GAP network with year-over-year growth, recording a slight 1.0% increase in passengers during the first two quarters, totaling 4,758,100 passengers compared to 4,708,800 in 2023. However, the upward trend is narrowing and may fall below last year’s figures by year-end.
The summer season, traditionally a peak period for tourism, saw a slight decline in domestic arrivals, which reached 278,400 in August, a 2.9% dip from 284,000 in August 2023. Over the first eight months of 2024, domestic travel totaled 1,902,600 passengers, down 4.1% from 2023’s 1,984,100.
International travel also saw a decline last month, with 172,600 passengers, 11.6% fewer than the 195,300 recorded in August 2023. Nevertheless, international traffic over the first eight months grew by 4.8%, reaching 2,855,500 passengers, compared to 2,724,700 in 2023, demonstrating the growing allure of Puerto Vallarta as a global destination.
While the number of seats offered increased slightly in August, ongoing maintenance of Pratt & Whitney engines temporarily impacted the overall seat capacity. This temporary measure is expected to have a minimal long-term effect on the city’s tourism industry.
Despite the challenges faced, the Puerto Vallarta International Airport continues to demonstrate resilience and remains a key player in the GAP network. The increase in occupancy rates is a positive sign of efficient capacity management, and the steady growth in international passenger traffic highlights its enduring appeal to travelers worldwide.
As the airport adapts to market dynamics, its commitment to providing a seamless travel experience positions it well for future recovery and success.