[1] In addition to its commercial operations, Cancun Airport supports various activities in general and executive aviation, flight training, and intensive air charter services.

Cozumel and Tulum international airports serve as alternative options in the Cancun area, contributing to the region's overall aviation infrastructure.

[4] In the early 1970s, Cancun emerged as a major tourist destination following a deliberate effort by the Mexican government, in collaboration with the National Tourism Development Fund (Spanish: Fondo Nacional de Fomento al Turismo FONATUR).

Recognizing its strategic location near pristine beaches, natural landscapes, and archaeological sites, the comprehensive plan aimed to transform Cancun from a sparsely inhabited area into a world-class tourist hub.

The airport's inaugural commercial flight occurred on May 12, 1975, drawing swift attention from international tourists.

It served as a hub for Mexicana, Interjet, and Aladia in their operational years, facilitating connections for both domestic and international flights.

The defunct charter airline Aerocancun, based in Cancun, also provided flights to U.S., Canadian, European, and South American destinations.

MAYAir, established in 1994 initially as a charter airline, expanded its routes from Cancun to various destinations in the Yucatan Peninsula.

This marked a pivotal moment for Cancun Airport, integrating it into the Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste ASUR.

[5] Key additions, including a new runway and Latin America's tallest control tower at 97 meters, were unveiled in October 2009, effectively doubling the airport's passenger handling capacity.

Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Mexican authorities maintained open borders for tourism, positioning Cancun as one of the select international destinations to welcome visitors.

The airport is located in the Cancun urban area, less than 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) southwest of the tourist complex, at an elevation of 6 metres (20 ft) above sea level.

With the capability to accommodate large aircraft such as Boeing 747s and Airbus A380s, the airport boasts two parallel operative runways that can be used simultaneously.

Beyond the terminals, the airport offers long-term and short-term parking facilities, on-site hotels, a variety of restaurants, and rental car services.

It also accommodates facilities for the Mexican Airspace Navigation Services (Spanish: Servicios a la Navegación en el Espacio Aéreo Mexicano).

Temporarily closed for reconstruction after Hurricane Wilma, the terminal resumed operations exclusively for charter flights upon reopening in November 2013.

Each terminal features extensive ground transportation facilities with numbered boarding platforms, and nearby snack stands.