Cancún's initial airport was established in 1942 as a strategic move to support the region's primary industry at the time: the chewing gum. This early airport operated on a rudimentary runway, featuring a control tower constructed from wood and reeds that remained in operation until 1973. To commemorate its history, a replica stands near the city's entrance, close to its original location. A replica stands near the city's entrance, close to its original location, near what is now Kabah Avenue. In the early 1970s, Cancun emerged as a major tourist destination following a deliberate effort by the Mexican government, in collaboration with the National Tourism Development Fund (Spanish: Fondo Nacional de Fomento al Turismo FONATUR). Recognizing its strategic location near pristine beaches, natural landscapes, and archaeological sites, the comprehensive plan aimed to transform Cancun from a sparsely inhabited area into a major international tourist destination. Substantial investments in infrastructure were made, including the construction of the new Cancun International Airport, designed and built by Henro y Asociados in collaboration with the Department of Infrastructure. The airport's inaugural commercial flight occurred on May 12, 1975, prompting an immediate increase in international traffic. Throughout its history, Cancun Airport has served as a base for multiple carriers over the years. It served as a hub for Mexicana, Interjet, and Aladia in their operational years, facilitating both domestic and international connections. The defunct charter airline Aerocancun also provided charter flights to the United States, Canada, Europe, and South America. MAYAir, established in 1994 initially as a charter airline, expanded its routes from Cancun to various destinations in the Yucatán Peninsula. In 1995, Mexico embarked on a significant airport privatization initiative through the 'Ley de Aeropuertos' (Airports Law) introduced by the Department of Infrastructure. This marked a pivotal moment for Cancun Airport, integrating it into the Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste (ASUR). Until the early 2000s, Cancun Airport operated with two terminals. A major transformation began in 2005 when ASUR invested US$150 million in constructing Terminal 3, officially inaugurated in 2007. Key additions, including a new runway and then Latin America's tallest control tower at 97 meters, were unveiled in October 2009, effectively doubling the airport's passenger handling capacity. On November 27, 2013, Cancun Airport achieved another milestone, becoming the first in Mexico to welcome the Airbus A380, commemorating the 80th anniversary of Air France and the 15th anniversary of ASUR. The expansion continued with an expansion of Terminal 2 in 2014 and a significant 76,000 square metres (820,000 sq ft) expansion of Terminal 3 in 2016, introducing six gates and additional commercial areas. This expansion raised annual passenger capacity from 6 million to 10 million. In response to the overcrowding and surging demand, Terminal 4 was inaugurated in October 2017. Despite challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, Mexican authorities kept borders open for tourism, making Cancún one of the few international destinations to remain accessible. In 2023, a Tren Maya station was inaugurated adjacent to the airport as part of a federal rail project. In parallel, ASUR initiated the second phase of Terminal 4's expansion, which includes new passenger areas, apron extensions, and a new supplementary 24 metres (79 ft) tall control tower. ASUR expects the expanded terminal to be fully operational by 2026. In early 2025, ASUR also began construction on a comprehensive revival of Terminal 1, which had remained closed since the mid-2010s.