What was heralded as the “golden bridge” for the Riviera Nayarit has suffered a hard landing before it could even take hold. Air Canada has officially canceled, until further notice, the launch of its direct route between Vancouver (YVR) and Tepic (TPQ), which was projected to operate with Boeing 737-MAX 8 aircraft last December.
Sources close to the industry confirm that, after a rigorous profitability analysis, the airline determined that the Tepic market does not currently offer the stable passenger flow or the growth necessary to sustain an international operation of this scale.
Despite the investments exceeding 4 billion pesos mentioned in official statements, the reality on the ground is quite different. The expansion and renovation of Tepic Airport seems to have no end in sight, and the lack of ground transportation and promotion, as well as the absence of actual use of the complex to demonstrate its viability beyond being a secondary airport, are factors that have prevented the terminal from becoming the real alternative to Puerto Vallarta International Airport that the project’s promoters promised.
This setback represents a major blow to the government and tourism sectors that invested political and economic capital in positioning Tepic as the new luxury gateway to the Pacific coast.
In a pragmatic move, Air Canada has decided to shift its focus to safer ground. The resources and operational capacity that would have been allocated to Nayarit will be absorbed by airports in Jalisco.
Just hours ago, an increase in frequencies on the Puerto Vallarta-Vancouver route was confirmed, going from one to two weekly flights, while in Jalisco’s capital, the new direct route to Montreal (YUL), which will begin on June 2nd, was ratified.
The change in strategy is already visible to users. When searching the airline’s website for the TPQ-YVR route, the system displays the message: “No flights found,” confirming that the route has been removed from future commercial offerings.
While the Tepic Airport seeks to define its identity and complete its construction, air connectivity on the Mexican Pacific coast will remain concentrated on traditional destinations, highlighting that infrastructure and demand do not always keep pace with government announcements.
Source: badebia.media
