Key takeaways
- American Airlines has completely exited the Tijuana market after ending its Phoenix–Tijuana route
- The carrier is continuing to reshape its Phoenix network, with the Phoenix–Monterrey route also scheduled to end by December 2026
- American Airlines is not pulling back from Mexico overall, as it still serves around 30 Mexican destinations
American Airlines completely exited the Tijuana market after ending its only route to the Mexican border city.
The airline stopped flying between Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and Tijuana International Airport on Aug. 2, 2026. This brought an end to a service that operated since early 2024. The move means American Airlines no longer serves Tijuana at all.
American Airlines Pulls Out of Tijuana
The Phoenix-Tijuana route was one of American Airlines’ shortest international services, covering roughly 290 miles with a flight time of around one hour.
When the route launched in 2024, it was a potentially important connection for passengers traveling between Arizona and northwestern Mexico, particularly those visiting family, traveling for business or exploring Baja California.
(Source: simpleflying.com)
However, passenger demand reportedly failed to reach the levels American Airlines expected. The airline ultimately decided that the route was not generating enough traffic to justify continued service.
Tijuana’s proximity to San Diego may also make the market particularly competitive. The city sits only around 20 miles south of the US border, which gives travelers several alternative ways to reach the region.
American Airlines Continues Reshaping Phoenix Network
The Tijuana exit comes as American Airlines is also making changes to its Phoenix network. The carrier has confirmed plans to discontinue flights between Phoenix and Monterrey by December 2026 because of insufficient demand.
American regularly reviews its routes and removes services that fail to attract enough traffic or generate acceptable financial returns. Despite pulling out of Tijuana, American Airlines is not fully retreating from Mexico.
The carrier is still the US airline serving the largest number of Mexican destinations, with approximately 30 cities in its network. From Phoenix alone, American serves nine destinations in Mexico, including Cancun, Mexico City and Los Cabos, alongside seasonal service to Zihuatanejo.
The Tijuana decision therefore seems to be a targeted market withdrawal rather than a bigger pullback from Mexico.
