Cancun Airport Revolutionizes Entry Process: 3-Hour Waits to 7 Minutes

The implementation of modern technologies has significantly sped up the admission of tourists into Mexico. According to the Mexican Government's Tourism Department, these advancements at Cancun Airport have managed to cut waiting times from nearly three hours to a mere seven minutes.

Miguel Torruco Marqués, the Secretary of Tourism, revealed that in response to the demands of the sector, a proposal was made to amend Article 35 of the Migration Law. This amendment would allow the use of technological tools at all major airports to expedite tourist admission.

The amendment was published on April 29, 2022, coinciding with the implementation of a pilot project at Cancun Airport. This project successfully reduced the wait time from 2 hours and 45 minutes per person to just seven minutes during peak hours.

Marqués was tasked by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to find a solution to speed up entry into the country and alleviate the frequent congestion at Mexico City International Airport (AICM) and Cancun, as well as Puerto Rico, Vallarta, Los Cabos, Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Tijuana, which account for 90 percent of arrivals.

Several agencies, including the Secretariats of the Interior, Foreign Affairs, the National Institute of Migration (INM), and the President of the Cancun, Puerto Morelos, and Isla Mujeres Hotel Association, were asked to present the proposal to amend Article 35 of the Migration Law. This law aims to enable the use of automated technological tools to facilitate and expedite entry.

The proposal was approved unanimously by both Chambers and published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) on April 29, 2022, thereby addressing a demand from the sector that had been ongoing for over 25 years.

Following this, meetings were held with the INM to monitor progress, the Operation Manual was developed, and the pilot plan was implemented at Cancun airport where waiting times were significantly reduced.

As of December 2022, the INM has implemented Autonomous Migration Filters (FMA) at the International Airports of Mexico City and Cancun. By May 2024, these filters will also be operational at Los Cabos International Airport and Guadalajara International Airport by August 2024. They are also already in operation at Puerto Vallarta International Airport.

Marqués highlighted the importance of this initiative by the Ministry of Tourism, which has modernized the country's airports. However, Tijuana and Monterrey airports, operated by the Pacific Airport Group (GAP) and the Centre North Airport Group (OMA) respectively, are urged to implement these measures to ensure uniformity across all airports.

In 2023, Cancun Airport received 10.4 million international tourists, making it the country's leading air destination. From January to July 2024, Cancun airport accommodated 6.2 million international tourists, marking a 0.9% increase from the same period in 2023.

Meanwhile, the AICM received 4.2 million international tourists in 2023, ranking it second in the country.