Cozumel
International Airport
The island’s own international airport, three kilometres from town. A 10,165 foot main runway, an 8,858 foot second runway, Category 7 cover, customs on site, and no ferry.
Reviewed by Kevin Singh, Founder · Fact-checked against Icarus Jet fleet and airport operations data · Last updated 2 September 2026
The Airport
Cozumel at a glance
Cozumel carries the ICAO code MMCZ and the identifier CZM. A 10,165 foot main runway and an 8,858 foot second runway at 21 feet elevation, about three kilometres north of San Miguel de Cozumel, with ICAO Category 7 fire cover.
It is an international airport with customs on site, and a direct arrival avoids the Playa del Carmen ferry entirely.
Why here
No ferry
Flying to Cancún and taking the ferry from Playa del Carmen adds an hour’s drive and a 45 minute crossing. A direct arrival into Cozumel clears customs three kilometres from town, with the western-shore resorts 20 to 30 minutes away.
The island is one of the busiest cruise ports in the Caribbean and a diving destination year round, which is why its infrastructure is more developed than its size would suggest.
Operating
Runways, permit and time zone
05/23 is 3,098 metres, about 10,165 feet, and 12/30 is 2,700 metres, about 8,858 feet, at 21 feet elevation with Category 7 fire cover. The main runway takes the whole of business aviation.
Mexico requires foreign operators to hold a permit from AFAC. Charter operators use a Blanket Permit with the operator’s AOC validated by AFAC, which we plan at ten business days; since 1 January 2024 private operations file six-month single-entry authorisations. General aviation is restricted to the public-use airports AFAC lists, and every airport on this page is one of them.
Cozumel is on Eastern Standard Time, UTC-5, all year. The season is November to April; hurricane season is June to November.
History
A Navy airfield
The airport began as a United States Navy airfield built during the Second World War for anti-submarine patrols over the Caribbean, and passed to civil use afterwards.
It grew with the island’s diving and cruise economy into an international airport, with the terminal expanded in the 2000s.
Nearby
Cozumel and the Mexico and Central America fields
Mexico is a permits market. Choose the airport by destination once the AFAC permit is in hand.
Cancún for the mainland Riviera Maya. Los Cabos and Cabo San Lucas for Baja. Acapulco for the Pacific coast. Tijuana for the border. Querétaro for the Bajío. San José, Guanacaste and Limón for Costa Rica.
Airport guides & index
Questions
Cozumel, answered
Can private jets use Cozumel?
Yes. Cozumel has its own international airport with a 10,165 foot main runway, an 8,858 foot second runway, ICAO Category 7 fire cover and customs on site. Flying direct to the island avoids the Playa del Carmen ferry entirely.
How long are the runways at Cozumel?
05/23 is 3,098 metres, about 10,165 feet, and 12/30 is 2,700 metres, about 8,858 feet, at 21 feet elevation. Fire cover is Category 7. The main runway takes the whole of business aviation.
What permit does Mexico require?
Mexico requires foreign operators to hold a permit from AFAC. Charter operators use a Blanket Permit with the operator's AOC validated by AFAC, which we plan at ten business days; since 1 January 2024 private operations file six-month single-entry authorisations. General aviation is restricted to the public-use airports AFAC lists, and every airport on this page is one of them.
Cozumel or Cancún?
Cozumel for the island. Cancún for the mainland coast. Flying to Cancún and taking the ferry from Playa del Carmen adds an hour's drive and a 45 minute crossing; a direct arrival into Cozumel clears customs three kilometres from town.
Is ground handling mandatory at Cozumel?
Handling is arranged on every private flight for customs coordination. Jet A-1 is available.
How far is the airport from town?
About three kilometres north of San Miguel de Cozumel, ten minutes, and the resorts along the western shore are within 20 to 30 minutes.
What time zone is Cozumel in?
Eastern Standard Time, UTC-5, all year. Quintana Roo left Central Time in 2015 and does not observe daylight saving.
When is the season at Cozumel?
November to April for the dry season, with diving year round. Hurricane season is June to November.
Can you fly direct from the United States to Cozumel?
Yes. Cozumel is an international airport with customs and immigration and receives direct flights from the United States. A private aircraft clears on arrival.
What is the history of Cozumel airport?
The airport began as a United States Navy airfield built during the Second World War for anti-submarine patrols over the Caribbean, and passed to civil use afterwards. It grew with the island's diving and cruise economy into an international airport, with the terminal expanded in the 2000s.
Is Cozumel a cruise port?
Yes, one of the busiest in the Caribbean, which is why the island's infrastructure is more developed than its size would suggest. That does not affect the airport, which sits away from the cruise piers.
Get Your Number
Request a Cozumel charter
Tell us the dates and the aircraft. We file the AFAC permit inside the ten day window and arrange handling and customs for a direct arrival on the island.
Prefer to talk? Call +1 888 277 7203 or email charter@icarusjet.com. The desk is staffed 24/7.