How Busy Does Los Cabos Airport Get In High Season? The Answer May Surprise You

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We at The Cabo Sun have been watching the airport numbers all fall, and the picture for this high season is big. If Los Cabos is on your winter wish list, you’re not imagining that flights feel fuller, lines a little longer, and the energy at San José del Cabo’s SJD airport more intense than ever.

According to new data from local outlet Tribuna de México, Los Cabos International Airport is gearing up for up to 130 flights a day on peak Saturdays, almost double a normal weekend, starting around November 15 as high season kicks in.

So… how busy does the airport really get, and what does that mean for your trip?

The numbers behind Cabo’s “surprisingly” busy airport

On a typical Saturday in the quieter months, SJD handles about 70 flights. In high season, that can jump all the way to 130 operations in a single day, especially around Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Airport director Francisco Villaseñor also expects around 7.5 million passengers in 2025, even after a small dip in some domestic operations this year.

Zoom out, and the story gets even bigger:

• SJD has been operating near record levels all year, with only a small September softening while still staying ahead of pre-pandemic norms.
• In recent years, the airport has climbed to become one of Mexico’s busiest hubs for international arrivals, ranked fourth in foreign passenger traffic.

In other words, you’re flying into a resort town that increasingly operates like a major international gateway.

What that feels like on the ground

If you’re arriving on a peak Saturday afternoon in late November or over the holidays, here’s what those stats translate to:

• Fuller immigration halls and luggage carousels. Flights tend to bank in waves, which means you might arrive just as several planes land from the U.S. and Canada. Our recent breakdown of airport traffic showed airlines keeping load factors around 80%+ heading into winter.
• Busier curbside and shuttle areas. With hotel occupancy projected around 75% for November and December (and well above that on key dates), expect more shared shuttles, private transfers, and taxis jostling for space outside.
• Higher “background noise” everywhere. From check-in counters to departure gates, high season means more families, wedding groups, and snow-dodging escapees all funneled through the same few terminals.

The good news? The airport has been upgrading for this reality. SJD recently earned a Passenger Experience Level 2 accreditation for concrete improvements across the journey, which is exactly what you want when lines are long and flights are full.

Timing tricks to dodge the worst of the crowds

You can’t change how popular Cabo is (and honestly, that’s part of the fun), but you can game the system a little:

• Avoid the peak Saturday wave if you can. Mid-week arrivals and departures—especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays—tend to come with calmer terminals and better fares. Our piece on how Los Cabos is expecting record-breaking crowds this season lays out how those weekend spikes play out.
• Travel earlier or later in the day. The midday window is when many North American flights converge. Early morning and late evening often mean shorter lines.
• Lean on shoulder-adjacent days. Early November and early January sit on the edges of the highest demand, a pattern we break down in our guides to visiting Cabo in November and how hotel rates are averaging around $500 a night this high season.

Think of it like booking concert tickets: same headliner, very different experience depending on which show time you choose.

How early you really need to get to SJD

On paper, the standard advice for international flights out of Los Cabos is to arrive at least three hours before departure. Multiple airport guides have repeated that rule of thumb for years.

In high season, especially on a Saturday or a holiday week, we’d upgrade that to:

• 3.5–4 hours before departure if you’re flying mid-day or late afternoon
• Closer to 3 hours if you’re on the first wave of morning flights

That gives you buffer for:

• Longer check-in and bag-drop lines
• Extra time at security
• A quick stop for food or a lounge visit without sprinting to your gate

If you like step-by-step strategy, our deep dives on essential airport tips as Cabo becomes the fourth-busiest airport in Mexico and as it prepared to break passenger records are worth a read before you fly.

Arrival game plan: beating the chaos once you land

Landing in a busy airport doesn’t have to feel stressful if you’ve prepped your exit:

• Pre-book your airport transfer. Our latest Los Cabos safety tips for 2025 put this at the very top of the list—official shuttles and reputable private cars remove the guesswork when you walk out into a buzzing arrivals hall.
• Skip the “shark tank” offers. Timeshare reps and unofficial drivers will be extra active on busy days. Our guide to things to avoid when arriving at Los Cabos Airport shows you exactly how to walk straight past the noise and toward your confirmed ride.

Once you’re through those first 30–40 minutes, the high-season crowds start to feel more like vacation energy than hassle.

The sneaky high-season trap: airport prices

There’s one more way a busy airport hits travelers: your wallet. With more people flowing through SJD, food and drink prices don’t exactly trend downward. In fact, we recently broke down how you can end up with a $40 margarita at the gate if you’re not careful—and the simple “5-minute OXXO pit stop” trick that keeps your costs in check.

When flights are packed and lines are long, the temptation to just grab the nearest drink or snack is huge. A tiny bit of planning (and a convenience store stop on the way) goes a long way.

Bottom line: Yes, it’s busy—here’s how to make it feel easy

So, how busy does Los Cabos Airport get in high season? Busy enough to handle up to 130 flights a day, millions of passengers a year, and yet still be one of the most convenient gateways to sun, whales, and winter escape you’ll find anywhere.

If you:

• Choose smarter flight days and times
• Show up early (especially on Saturdays and holidays)
• Pre-book your transport and know what to avoid in arrivals
• Prep for airport prices before you hit security

…you’ll experience that growth as excitement, not stress.

And if you want to see just how ready you are for a peak-season Cabo run through SJD, take our 1-minute winter getaway quiz for a quick gut check before you pack.