More Mexican residents are using the strong peso to travel abroad by air, and the increase is showing up in both passenger numbers and spending. New tourism data for the first quarter of 2026 shows a clear rise in outbound travel, with the United States still the main destination. The trend may continue this year as the World Cup brings more attention to trips across North America.
Mexican residents take more trips abroad by air
More Mexican residents traveled abroad by air during the first quarter of 2026, helped by the peso’s strength against the dollar.
Between January and March, 2 million residents of Mexico traveled abroad by plane. That was a 14.3 percent annual increase, according to tourism research data based on official travel statistics.
The rise was also reflected in spending. Mexican travelers abroad spent about $1.52 billion during the same period. That represented a 19.5 percent increase from the first quarter of last year.
Average spending also moved higher. The reported average was $966.20 per traveler, up 10.6 percent from the same period in 2025.
The numbers point to a travel market where Mexicans are not only flying abroad more often, but also spending more once they leave the country.
United States remains the top destination
The United States remained the main destination for Mexican travelers going abroad by air.
The most visited U.S. cities included Dallas, Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, and Atlanta. These routes are common for tourism, family visits, business travel, and air connections.
Travel to Europe also remained part of the outbound trend. Paris and Madrid were listed among the leading European destinations for Mexican travelers.
In South America, the main destinations included Colombia, Peru, Brazil, and Argentina. Those countries continue to attract Mexican travelers for leisure and regional connections.
The data show that outbound travel is not limited to a single trip type. It includes nearby U.S. travel, long-haul trips to Europe, and regional travel within Latin America.
World Cup expected to keep demand moving
Outbound air travel is expected to keep growing this year, with the 2026 World Cup adding another reason for Mexican residents to travel.
The tournament will be held in Mexico, the United States, and Canada. While Mexico will host matches, many games will be played in the United States and Canada, creating travel demand across the region.
That matters for residents in Mexico who already use North American air routes. Higher demand can affect flight availability, ticket prices, and planning windows, especially around match dates and host cities.
The stronger peso has made some foreign travel more accessible for Mexican residents. The World Cup may now extend that trend into the summer travel season.
