Cancun Recovers from Hurricane Helene's Impact

In the wake of tropical storm Helene, Quintana Roo is beginning to pick up the pieces, as both locals and tourists face the consequences of the storm's heavy rains and gusting winds. While the state’s iconic Cancun International Airport has gradually resumed operations, delays and cancellations linger in the aftermath of a disruption that hit at the height of the region’s tourist season. As Governor Mara Lezama reported, authorities are working to restore normalcy across Quintana Roo, including at key ports and popular destinations like Cozumel and Tulum, but the scars left by Helene are evident.

Helene made its presence felt across Quintana Roo, with the storm hitting hardest in the state’s tourism hub, Cancún. As of late Wednesday afternoon, the Cancun International Airport was still facing significant disruption: 46 incoming flights were delayed, along with 49 outbound, and a staggering 108 flights were canceled. Passengers faced confusion and uncertainty, as the storm's effects rippled across the aviation industry. By Thursday morning, operations began to stabilize, with Mara Lezama announcing that gradual reactivation was underway, and hopes were high that full operations could resume before the day ended.