Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – The Puerto Vallarta International Airport, under the management of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP), has set a remarkable record in 2023 by nearly reaching 6.8 million passengers. This milestone represents a significant achievement, surpassing the figures from the previous year by an impressive 9.4 percent.
Throughout the year 2023, the airport consistently maintained its growth trajectory. In December alone, it hosted 700,500 passengers, reflecting a 4.6 percent increase compared to December 2022. This December performance also earned Puerto Vallarta International Airport the distinction of being the third GAP terminal with the highest percentage growth.
Although the growth rate in 2023 was slightly less accelerated than in previous years, the total passenger count inched close to the impressive 7 million mark.
In December 2023, all 12 Mexican airports under the GAP umbrella reported a collective increase in total passenger traffic, registering a 1.3% uptick compared to the same month in 2022. Among these, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, and Guadalajara airports stood out with growth rates of 4.6%, 2.0%, and 1.2%, respectively, compared to December 2022. Notably, December 2023 witnessed the highest growth among the GAP terminals.
Breaking down the numbers, Puerto Vallarta airport welcomed 700,500 passengers in December 2023, marking a 4.6% increase from the 669,900 passengers in the same month of the previous year. Over the course of the entire year, the airport recorded a total of 6,790,100 passengers, signifying a remarkable 9.4% surge compared to the year 2022.
Among the most prominent Mexican GAP terminals, Guadalajara took the lead with a 13.5% increase, followed by Los Cabos with 9.9%. Guadalajara registered 17,710,200 passengers, while Tijuana recorded 13,194,900 and Los Cabos welcomed 7,715,600 passengers in 2023.
In terms of domestic flights, December 2023 saw 230,000 passengers arriving in Puerto Vallarta, which represented an 8.1% decline compared to the same month in 2022 when 230,700 passengers arrived. Throughout the year, domestic travel showed a modest 7.7% rebound, resulting in Puerto Vallarta conceding its third-place position to Los Cabos, with Guadalajara and Tijuana leading the list.
On the international front, 469,800 passengers arrived on international flights in December 2023, marking a significant 12.1% increase from December 2022 when there were 418,900 arrivals. Over the course of the year, international travel exhibited robust growth, registering a 10.6% positive balance compared to 2022, with double-digit growth in this segment. While Puerto Vallarta’s growth rate was exceeded by Guadalajara, it outperformed Los Cabos in terms of passenger numbers.
In December 2023, there was a marginal decrease of 0.9% in the volume of seats offered compared to December 2022. However, the load factor improved, increasing from 78.0% in December 2022 to an impressive 80.4% in December 2023.
Lastly, in December, several new routes were introduced, enhancing connectivity. Notable among them were Guanajuato – Dallas Fort Worth (Viva Aerobus), Guadalajara – Felipe Ángeles (Viva Aerobus), Guadalajara – Tulum (Viva Aerobus), La Paz – Monterrey (Viva Aerobus), Puerto Vallarta – Abbotsford (WestJet), Puerto Vallarta – Las Vegas (Alaska), Puerto Vallarta – Prince George (WestJet), Puerto Vallarta – Kitchener-Waterloo (Flair), Los Cabos – Montreal (Air Canada), Los Cabos – Abbotsford (WestJet), Los Cabos – Las Vegas (Alaska), and Tijuana – Tulum (Viva Aerobus). It is worth noting that the inaugural flights of the new Mexicana de Aviación were not included in this report.
The Puerto Vallarta International Airport’s outstanding performance in 2023 underscores its growing importance as a key transportation hub and signifies positive prospects for the region’s tourism and economy.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - The Puerto Vallarta International Airport, under the management of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP), has set a remarkable . . .
