American Airlines is adding a brief run of nonstop flights between Phoenix and Oaxaca, Mexico, to celebrate Día de los Muertos. The service will operate on only four dates in fall 2026.
Flights between Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and Oaxaca International Airport are scheduled for Oct. 29, Oct. 30, Nov. 3 and Nov. 4. American's schedule lists service in both directions on each date.
The arrangement allows Phoenix travelers to arrive before the holiday and return afterward without connecting through another airport.
However, it does not create a permanent route or daily service during the celebration. Phoenix Sky Harbor announced the flights on Aug. 18.
Travelers can leave Phoenix on Oct. 29 or 30 and use the Nov. 3 or 4 nonstop for the return journey. A one-night trip is also possible because flights operate in both directions on consecutive dates.
The approximately 1,500-mile route connects Phoenix with Oaxaca International Airport, also called Xoxocotlán International Airport. The airport is located south of Oaxaca City.
Tickets can be searched through the American Airlines booking page. Fares and remaining seats can change, and the airline's other Phoenix–Oaxaca itineraries may include connections.
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Oaxaca's government identifies Nov. 1 and 2 as the celebration's most significant days. Families prepare altars with photographs, candles, marigolds and foods associated with relatives who have died.
Traditions vary across the state's eight regions. An official Oaxaca account describes offerings that may include mole negro, tamales, fruit, chocolate and mezcal.
American currently offers more Phoenix–Mexico service than any other airline at Sky Harbor. The Oaxaca flights temporarily expand that network during one of the city's busiest cultural periods.
The State Department currently places Oaxaca state under a Level 2 travel advisory, meaning travelers should exercise increased caution. It lists no specific restrictions for Oaxaca City or nearby Monte Albán. After Nov. 4, American's schedule no longer lists the Phoenix–Oaxaca nonstop. Travelers can still reach Oaxaca on connecting itineraries.