Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – The Puerto Vallarta International Airport, managed by Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP), reached an unprecedented milestone by welcoming almost 6.8 million passengers in 2023, a notable 9.4% increase from the previous year.
The airport sustained its growth trend in December 2023, registering 700,500 passengers, marking a 4.6% improvement compared to December 2022. This performance secured its position as the third GAP terminal with the highest growth rate for the month.
While the growth rate moderated, falling below double digits, the total passenger count approached 7 million.
In December 2023, the twelve Mexican airports within the GAP collectively reported a 1.3% increase in total passenger traffic compared to the same month in 2022. Puerto Vallarta, along with Los Cabos and Guadalajara, stood out with growth rates of 4.6%, 2.0%, and 1.2%, respectively, making Puerto Vallarta the airport with the highest growth rate in the last month of the year.
Specifically, Puerto Vallarta airport attracted 700,500 passengers in December 2023, showing a 4.6% increase from the same month in the previous year. The annual total reached 6,790,100 passengers, marking a 9.4% surge compared to 2022. Guadalajara led among the major Mexican GAP terminals with a 13.5% increase, followed by Los Cabos with 9.9%.
Analyzing the domestic and international markets, domestic flights to Puerto Vallarta saw an 8.1% decrease in December, totaling 230,000 passengers. However, the international segment experienced a robust 12.1% increase, capturing 469,800 passengers during the same period. Overall, the international market recorded a double-digit growth rate of 10.6 percent throughout the year.
In terms of flight operations, December 2023 witnessed a slight decrease of 0.9% in the volume of seats offered compared to December 2022. Despite this, the load factor improved from 78.0% to 80.4% during the same period.
Noteworthy developments in December included the inauguration of new routes such as Puerto Vallarta – Abbotsford (WestJet); Puerto Vallarta – Las Vegas (Alaska); Puerto Vallarta – Prince George (WestJet); Puerto Vallarta – Kitchener-Waterloo (Flair). The expansion reflects the airport’s commitment to meeting the growing demands of travelers to the region.
2023 wasn’t just a year of exceptional growth; it was a declaration of intent. With the new terminal set to open in December 2024, Puerto Vallarta’s International Airport is gearing up for even greater heights in the years to come. So fasten your seatbelts and prepare for takeoff.
