Puerto Vallarta’s international airport recorded a slight decrease in total passenger traffic this past February, even as the broader network of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP) airports posted an overall uptick compared to last year. This is according to preliminary passenger traffic results released for February 2025, measured against the same period in 2024.
GAP reports that its 12 Mexican airports collectively registered a 2.6% increase in total passenger traffic year over year. Leading the group were the airports in Guadalajara and Tijuana, showing increases of 5.8% and 2.7%, respectively. In contrast, Los Cabos posted a 3.8% decrease, while Puerto Vallarta experienced a 1.8% dip compared to February 2024.
Slight Dip in Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta’s airport welcomed 649,900 passengers this February—down from 662,100 during the same month last year. Despite that 1.8% decline, the cumulative figures for January and February 2025 still slightly surpassed those of 2024: 1,363,300 passengers so far this year, a 0.1% rise from the 1,362,000 total recorded in the same period last year.
Domestic vs. International Arrivals
Breaking down the February numbers:
- Domestic flights: 192,600 passengers, described in official data as a 14.3% decrease compared to the 168,500 reported in February 2024. Over the first two months of 2025, domestic arrivals totaled 422,100, 14.2% below the 369,600 recorded in 2024.
- International flights: 457,300 passengers in February 2025—a 7.4% drop from 493,600 in February 2024. Through January and February, Puerto Vallarta saw 941,200 international arrivals, 5.2% below the 992,400 recorded over the same period last year.
Seat Capacity and Occupancy
GAP also noted that the volume of seats offered during February 2025 increased by 2.8% compared to February 2024, although the occupancy factor declined slightly from 82.1% to 81.2%.
Despite Puerto Vallarta’s small year-over-year decrease in February, observers point out that the airport’s positive performance over the first two months as a whole indicates resilience in one of Mexico’s most popular coastal destinations. Tourism authorities remain optimistic that continued marketing efforts and the steady flow of flights will help Puerto Vallarta maintain its status as a leading beach destination in the coming months.
