Puerto Vallarta’s airport is promoting new routes for 2026, but the latest passenger figures tell a weaker story. April traffic fell sharply compared with last year, and the airport remains behind 2025 levels through the first four months. Officials say added routes and restored frequencies could help reverse the trend later this year, but the current data shows the recovery has not arrived yet.
Puerto Vallarta airport sees sharp April drop in passengers
Puerto Vallarta’s airport reported a sharp decline in April passenger traffic, adding pressure to a year that is already running behind 2025.
The airport handled 542,600 passengers in April 2026, down 17 percent from April 2025. The decline followed a much smaller drop in March, when traffic was down 0.4 percent year over year.
Through April, the airport handled 2.46 million passengers, compared with 2.78 million during the same period last year. That leaves Puerto Vallarta about 320,000 passengers behind its 2025 pace.
The weaker numbers come after a record year. In 2025, Puerto Vallarta’s airport recorded 6.9 million passengers and 67,200 operations.
International traffic shows the larger weakness
The April decline was sharper on the international side, which is especially important for Puerto Vallarta’s visitor economy.
International passengers made up 58 percent of traffic through April. Domestic passengers accounted for 42 percent.
April data showed international traffic falling more steeply than domestic traffic. That matters because Puerto Vallarta depends heavily on visitors from the United States and Canada during much of the year.
Airport officials have linked the slowdown to disruptions after February 22, when some airline operations were affected. They said some airlines reduced frequencies afterward, though routes were not removed.
That explanation may account for part of the decline. Still, the available passenger data shows traffic continued to weaken in April rather than recover.
Airport points to new routes later in 2026
Airport officials are now pointing to new and restored routes as part of a recovery outlook for the rest of 2026.
The airport has announced eight routes involving the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Those routes may improve travel options for residents, frequent visitors, and tourists later in the year.
Southwest Airlines launched service to San Diego and St. Louis in March. The San Diego flight is listed as daily, while St. Louis operates weekly. Southwest is also adding a Las Vegas route in June with two weekly frequencies.
Volaris is adding domestic service to Puebla, Aguascalientes, and San Luis Potosí on June 2. Puebla and Aguascalientes are listed with three weekly flights. San Luis Potosí is listed with four.
Porter Airlines is scheduled to begin service between Edmonton and Puerto Vallarta on November 3, with three weekly flights. Air Canada is also reopening Calgary-Puerto Vallarta service on December 10, with three weekly flights.
Recovery claim still depends on future traffic
The new routes give the airport a better outlook for later in the year, but they do not change the current passenger data.
For 2026, Puerto Vallarta is expected to average 478 weekly outbound frequencies across 54 destinations. That includes 24 destinations in the United States, 16 in Canada, and 14 in Mexico.
Airport officials say they expect numbers to improve in June. That claim will need to be tested against actual traffic reports once those figures are released. Although a recovery in June is a no-brainer, given the influx of travelers during the World Cup. The truth of a recovery in tourism for Puerto Vallarta will not be clear until the August data is available.
For now, the available data shows a clear decline through April. The airport’s recovery argument depends on whether added routes and restored frequencies bring passengers back in the months ahead.
Travelers should confirm flight schedules directly with airlines, since seasonal routes and frequencies can change.
