There’s nothing worse than getting off a plane after a long flight to see a never-ending queue to clear customs and passport control.
And Cancun International Airport was once notorious for its lengthy arrivals process, with passengers often waiting anything between 3-4 hours from their flight landing before they were out of the airport.
But all that has now changed.
According to a report from Riviera Maya News, Cancun airport has successfully reduced average entry wait times from almost 3 hours to just 7 minutes.
Reduced Wait Times For Arrivals
The Secretary of Tourism of the Government of Mexico has introduced new technologies that have dramatically reduced wait times for international arrivals from the United States and Canada.
These technologies were originally introduced in Cancun airport and following their success the Tourism Secretary Miguel Torruco Marques has now proposed introducing these tools in all major airports in Mexico.
So what, exactly, are the changes that have reduced wait times so dramatically?
The main new technology that has been introduced in Cancun is automated immigration filters.
These machines have been installed in Terminal 3, which is the terminal largely used for arrivals from the United States and Canada.
These machines can also be used by Mexican arrivals with chip passports.
And if you can’t use the new automated kiosks (perhaps because you don’t have an American or Canadian passport) then don’t worry: there are other upgrades too! 60 of the immigration agents based at the airport have been given public relations training from the Cancun Hotel Association.
Why? To ensure that if you do have to wait for an agent, you’ll get a great level of customer service when you finally get to the desk!
It’s also work noting that as part of the commitment to new technologies, all of the terminals in Cancun Airport now offer free wireless internet access for all passengers.
So at least you can scroll, stream, or check social media if you do get caught in a queue!
Personal Experiences
I only arrived at Cancun airport once (at the beginning of the year), and it was far from a smooth experience.
3 hours in a long queue with minimal air conditioning, surrounded by inebriated Brits (As a Brit myself, I’m allowed to say it!) The queues were disorganized, and everything felt frankly chaotic.
The fact there was nowhere we could grab a bottle of water made everything feel even worse.
Compared to experiences shared by travelers who have been to Cancun airport more recently, it feels like a whole new place! Smooth transitions, straightforward processes, and more importantly, very small queue times.
I would definitely be interested to hear how and when these new technologies will be rolled out to other Mexican airports.
Passing Through Cancun Airport Smoothly
Cancun Airport is Mexico’s 2nd busiest airport (After Mexico City International Airport) and it is also ranked as the 43rd busiest airport in the world.
If we look at just international arrivals alone then it is the 10th busiest airport in the world.
If you want to avoid the inevitable crowds that come with an airport this popular then choose your arrival times wisely.
The busiest days to arrive in Cancun International Airport are weekend days (Saturday and Sunday) and the airport is at its busiest between 11am and 2pm. To avoid these crowds consider arriving on a weekday and either early in the morning or in the evening.
You can also make your arrival into Cancun airport go more smoothly by making sure you have your passport and any supporting documents (such as your completed customs form) open and ready.
This might sound obvious, but I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been stuck behind someone who got to the front of the queue with their passport still in their backpack!
Finally, stay calm and patient: this is the time to break out that yogic breathing!
Things can and do go wrong, but frankly, losing your temper won’t get you through customs and passport control any faster.
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