The airline was scheduled to start flying to the Mexico destination in March.
With just weeks away until the first scheduled departure, Spirit Airlines is postponing flights to the brand new airport in Tulum, Mexico.
In October, the airline announced new routes to Tulum’s new Felipe Carrillo Puerto Airport but confirmed with Travel + Leisure on Friday that Spirit will be postponing the start date of the flights indefinitely due to ongoing mechanical issues with engine parts.
“We are postponing the start date of our Tulum (TQO) service as we continue to manage operational constraints related to Pratt & Whitney GTF engine availability,” a representative from Spirit Airlines said in a statement to T+L.
The flights were originally set to takeoff from both Orlando International Airport and Fort Lauderdale International Airport on March 28.
“We apologize to our guests for any inconvenience, and we’re reaching out to those with impacted travel plans to offer alternate flight options or a refund,” a representative from Spirit shared with T+L. “We look forward to the opportunity to serve Tulum in the future and will share more once we have an updated schedule.”
Spirit Airlines has faced headwinds with the repair and availability of the engine parts since August 2023.
“This new issue is yet another frustrating and disappointing development,” Spirit Airlines CEO Ted Christie said to investors, according to Reuters.
Spirit Airlines didn’t provide a timetable for when the Tulum flights could be restored, however company executives have discussed the engine service timeline during a recent earnings call.
“The timing of engine removals and aircraft being pulled through service is fluid,” Spirit Airlines’ Chief Commercial Officer and Executive Vice President Matthew Klein said during the airline’s most recent earnings call.
Tulum’s airport opened to domestic flights on December 1, 2023 when a Viva Aerobus flight landed to a special water cannon salute. The airport will begin welcoming international passengers on March 28, 2024.
Travelers from the United States will have a variety of options to visit Tulum including flights from United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and JetBlue.
