Tulum International Airport

[absoluteAL]

Originally Posted by Opatije

Chido Jesus!

I keep hearing about the "light rail system" between Cancun and Tulum (possibly even further south). Any info on that?

. Never in our lifetimes. Taxiistas and other ground transportation would have none of that competition PERIOD. End of story.

[Uno Mas]

Isn't there some Google Earth shots of the clearing for the runway several miles up and north of the Coba road? Not the little dinky airport just outside of town but a very long runway. I'll try and find them tonight.

Originally Posted by Babaloo

My bad
I misread and thought you were referring to Tulum

[amigo]

Originally Posted by Uno Mas

Isn't there some Google Earth shots of the clearing for the runway several miles up and north of the Coba road? Not the little dinky airport just outside of town but a very long runway. I'll try and find them tonight.

I have seen what your talking about but when I asked someone they told me it was the Mexican Army/Air Force camp... just what I heard, will stay tuned for more info....

[DougSR]

Originally Posted by Uno Mas

Isn't there some Google Earth shots of the clearing for the runway several miles up and north of the Coba road? Not the little dinky airport just outside of town but a very long runway. I'll try and find them tonight.

They are putting in a new road from 307.

[Dan-0]

I'm definitely not someone "in the know" about the airport in Tulum. But, don't read too much into it if Tulum does get an airport. I've heard and read a lot comments about this airport that some lead me to believe some potential foreign investors see this as a signal that an airport would be a green light signal for Tulum to become the next Playa or Cancun. A lot of folks are looking for inside information about this project so they can plop down some money and get a huge return on investment, and I can understand that. But, proceed with caution; this is still Mexico, and you're talking about Tulum. Anything can happen. The airport could be built and sit there for years. Look at the situation with the expropriated cabañas. I know there's risk in any investment, but I think the jury's still out as to what the significance of Tulum getting an airport would be, IMHO. The airport expansion in Cancun was proceeding rapidly when I was in Cancun last month and there are signs promoting the progress of that airport.

[bethh]

What was the situation with the expropriated cabañas?

[Dan-0]

Beth, there's a whole thread on it, click on this link: http://www.playa.info/playa-del-carm...struction.html

[Uno Mas]

OK here is what I've got:

Many people have mistaken this for the new Airport, but from what I have been told this is the military runway and not near long enough for big planes (right near the middle of the picture w/ 2 squares on each end)



Top left, this is what I have been told is the making of the new airport, runways at least. Coba road running through the picture.


Close up, people were able to do measurements based on Google Earth and this is supposed to measure out to a full length International AP runway.



This is what I have followed, feel free to disprove otherwise. I'm no Airport expert but those look like runways/taxiways to me? Perhaps Jesus could chime in, he had some good AP info.

Cancun AP, note the altitudes for comparison if you can see them.

[gdone]

Here's an interesting article I came across yesterday.

An International Airport for Tulum, Mexico | Mexico Real Estate Investment

[Jesus]

Originally Posted by Uno Mas

OK here is what I've got:

Close up, people were able to do measurements based on Google Earth and this is supposed to measure out to a full length International AP runway.



This is what I have followed, feel free to disprove otherwise. I'm no Airport expert but those look like runways/taxiways to me? Perhaps Jesus could chime in, he had some good AP info.

Cancun AP, note the altitudes for comparison if you can see them.

You made a good summary, in another thread we discussed the same ideas, those clearings are exactly the same length and orientation as Cancun's runway, so it look like the place for the new airport.
In the article I posted, they say that the land has already been purchased, so this makes sense to me.

By the way, in Google Maps you can also measure things. Go to "My Maps" create a new one and draw a line, or path and the pointer will give you the total distance. Very cool tool.

[Uno Mas]

This may have already been done but the strip of land above that looks like a runway near Tulum measures 11,472 feet and Cancuns runway is 11,483. I'll give them the 11 feet, looks to be identical to Cancuns runway. I measured ~18 kilometers by road from the runway to 307.

Originally Posted by Jesus

By the way, in Google Maps you can also measure things. Go to "My Maps" create a new one and draw a line, or path and the pointer will give you the total distance. Very cool tool.

[Jesus]

Originally Posted by absoluteAL

I don't quite understand who operates Chichen Itza airport. Again, I went to ASUR the operator of the nine major airports in southeast Mexico. According to their website the airports of ASUR are: Cancun, Cozumel, Huatulco, Merida, Minatitlan, Oaxaca, Tapachula, Veracruz, and Villahermosa. So what is CZA, chopped liver Bastard child

The governor of Yucatan just announced that Kaua (Chichen Itza's airport) is going to be re-opened by the beginning of October, just in time for Placido Domingo's concert at Chichen Itza.

ASUR is taking care of this airport and both the General Administrator of the terminal and the CEO of ASUR are mentioned in the article.

Full article from Yucatan State Press Office, sorry in Spanish.

En octubre reabre el aeropuerto internacional de Chichén Itzá

Como parte del proyecto turístico para conectar a Yucatán con otros puntos de interés del Mundo Maya en Chiapas, Guatemala, Campeche y Honduras, antes del cuatro de octubre venidero será reinaugurado el Aeropuerto Internacional de Chichén Itzá, informó la gobernadora Ivonne Ortega Pacheco.

En el marco de la firma del convenio con la administradora aeroportuaria Asur, empresa que se encargará del funcionamiento del renovado aeropuerto, se informó que reactivar dicha terminal permitirá contar con un verdadero Programa de Conectividad Aérea y Marítima, que incremente el número de rutas aéreas nacionales y regionales.

"Haciendo uso de esta infraestructura aprovecharemos la designación de Chichén Itzá como Nueva Maravilla del Mundo para la creación y desarrollo de un Centro Regional Turístico Integral y también, a partir del aeropuerto y su nueva operación, habremos de crear y echar a andar todo un programa de desarrollo regional a favor de la economía del Oriente de Yucatán", afirmó.

Con la reapertura del Aeropuerto Internacional de Chichén Itzá, abundó, nuestra entidad se convertirá en una de las principales puertas de entrada al corazón del Mundo Maya. "Yucatán tendrá una entrada digna e imponente a la Tierra del Mayab. Seremos un estado orgulloso de decir que somos herederos de Chichén Itzá", expresó.

Ante la presencia del director general de Asur, Fernando Chico Pardo, y el gerente general del Aeropuerto Internacional de Chichén Itzá, Alejandro Rosel Ramírez, la gobernadora informó que antes del "Concierto de las Mil Columnas", en el que actuará el tenor Plácido Domingo, se reinaugurará la terminal aeroportuaria, con instalaciones de primer nivel.

En el evento, el director del Centro SCT Yucatán, Renán Canto Jairala, recordó que la terminal se sumará a la infraestructura de comunicaciones de todo el país, que incluye 85 mil kilómetros de carreteras, 114 puertos, 85 aeropuertos y 26 mil kilómetros de vías férreas, por lo que expresó el apoyo del gobierno federal para impulsar este tipo de proyectos que, a su vez, reditúan en la generación importante de empleos.

"Esta terminal aérea será patrimonio de la gente de Yucatán, por eso lo adquirimos hace unos meses y, también, por eso lo estamos transformando y relanzando como infraestructura estratégica de comunicación", agregó la gobernadora.

La mandataria estatal hizo hincapié en que la más importante de las bondades del nuevo Aeropuerto Internacional de Chichén Itzá será que también dará la oportunidad de un desarrollo más armónico que permitirá nivelar capacidades económicas de las diversas regiones de la entidad para que haya un desarrollo social equilibrado.

"Tenemos que crear desde el oriente del Estado una frontera y un escudo de seguridad para nuestros jóvenes y sus familias. Un oriente fuerte en lo económico y justo en lo social será vital para que nadie venga a ensuciar nuestra casa con actos de violencia y criminalidad. Yucatán seguirá como un estado pacífico donde la gente honesta sí puede salir adelante", finalizó.-- Oficina de prensa del gobierno del Estado

Here is a link to another article on Yucatan Newpaper's site.
http://www.yucatan.com.mx/noticia.asp?cx=11$1500000000$3903137&f=20080904

[Jesus]

Another article, this time one of the most influyent in the country this days. Reforma.

This time is a regional airline: Mayair, taking about starting operations in Kaua airport.
The charter company is going to fly from Cozumel to Chichen Itza in aprox 38 minutes.

Mayair covers the Maya region: Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and is supposed to start operations the 3rd week of September (note very clear on the note).

Land purchasing around Kaua has been going up latetly, in order to stablish touristic infraestructure.

Fuente: Reforma

MÉXICO, DF, 04 de septiembre, 2008.- Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste (Asur) encontró la forma de ampliar su negocio y lo hará a través de la operación del Aeropuerto de Chichén Itzá, Káua, el cual estaba detenido desde hace más de un sexenio.

Jaime Valenzuela, director general de la empresa MAYAir, informó que la reactivación de este aeropuerto se dará a partir del 4 de octubre próximo, misma fecha en que la aerolínea iniciará operaciones para iniciar la explotación de la ruta del Mundo Maya.

Esta empresa chartera aprovechará el convenio que firmó el gobierno de México con los de Guatemala, Belice y Honduras para desarrollar el tráfico de turistas de estos países que en conjunto forman la ruta mencionada.

El objetivo es que esta aerolínea, que inicialmente iniciaría operaciones en la segunda quincena de septiembre, sea quien inicie vuelos de Cozumel a Chichén Itzá con tiempos máximos de 38 minutos, cuando por carretera el traslado se hace en 2 o 3 horas dependiendo del tráfico.

El directivo comentó que el gobierno de Yucatán, encabezado por Ivonne Ortega, fue el principal impulsor de la reactivación del aeropuerto, ya que en la administración de la actual gobernadora se adquirió la parte accionaria que tenía la iniciativa privada para que el Gobierno firmará un acuerdo con Asur.

Para el director de MAYAir la participación de Asur dará mayor impulso al aérea de Chichén Itzá y Valladolid, donde se ha incrementado la compra de terrenos para el desarrollo de desarrollos turísticos.

Con Asur en Káua, el grupo podrá también ser partícipe del tráfico de turistas que buscan llegar a la Riviera Maya, ya que el aeropuerto se localiza a 140 kilómetros de Tulum.

[Phil in Ottawa]

Originally Posted by Jesus

The governor of Yucatan just announced that Kaua (Chichen Itza's airport) is going to be re-opened by the beginning of October, just in time for Placido Domingo's concert at Chichen Itza.

Well, what do you know? I was wondering if that airport was ever going to open.

I remember flying there in 2004 with Aerosaab. The place was locked up tight with chains and padlocks. Turns out our taxi driver showed up with the keys to the airport and let us in

The place was deserted. Everything inside was covered in plastic. It felt so weird to walk through an airport and not see a soul

Here's a picture of our plane front and center on the tarmac:

[Jesus]

Originally Posted by Phil in Ottawa

Well, what do you know? I was wondering if that airport was ever going to open.

I remember flying there in 2004 with Aerosaab. The place was locked up tight with chains and padlocks. Turns out our taxi driver showed up with the keys to the airport and let us in

The place was deserted. Everything inside was covered in plastic. It felt so weird to walk through an airport and not see a soul

Well, I found a recent picture of Kaua-Chichen Itza, from August this year. Hope that by the re-opening they do something with that poor plane.



That's a defunct airline's 727, what a waste of money!