Mexico City International Airport
Mexico City International Airport Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez | |||||||||||||||
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Summary | |||||||||||||||
Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||
Owner/Operator | Grupo Aeroportuario de la Ciudad de México | ||||||||||||||
Serves | Greater Mexico City | ||||||||||||||
Location | Venustiano Carranza, Mexico City, Mexico | ||||||||||||||
Opened | May 15, 1931 | ||||||||||||||
Hub for | |||||||||||||||
Focus city for | Magnicharters | ||||||||||||||
Time zone | CST (UTC−06:00) | ||||||||||||||
Elevation AMSL | 2,230 m / 7,316 ft | ||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 19°26′10″N 099°04′19″W / 19.43611°N 99.07194°W | ||||||||||||||
Website | www | ||||||||||||||
Map | |||||||||||||||
MEX Location within Mexico City MEX MEX (Mexico City) MEX MEX (Mexico) | |||||||||||||||
Runways | |||||||||||||||
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Statistics (2024) | |||||||||||||||
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Mexico City International Airport (Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México, AICM), officially Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez (Benito Juárez International Airport) (IATA: MEX, ICAO: MMMX) is the primary international airport serving Greater Mexico City. It is the busiest airport in Mexico,[5] and as of 2025 ranks as the third-busiest in Latin America, the 15th-busiest in North America, and the 50th-busiest in the world by passenger traffic.[6] The airport is served by more than 25 airlines with routes to over 100 destinations across Mexico, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
As the primary hub for Mexico's flag carrier, Aeroméxico, the airport serves as a SkyTeam hub. It is also a hub for Volaris and Viva, and a focus city for Magnicharters. The airport has two passenger terminals and two runways. It hosts agencies including the Mexican Airspace Navigation Services (SENEAM), the Mexican Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC), and an Air Force base. The airport is owned by the Mexican Navy and operated by Grupo Aeroportuario de la Ciudad de México. It is named after 19th-century president Benito Juárez.[7]
As part of Mexico City’s airport system—along with Toluca International Airport and Felipe Ángeles International Airport—the airport operates at full capacity.[8] With an average of 1,056 daily aircraft movements, it ranks as one of the busiest two-runway airports in the world. Handling an average of 124,000 passengers per day, the airport served 48,415,693 passengers in 2023 and 45,359,485 in 2024.[3]
History
Origins
The site known as Llanos de Balbuena has been used for aviation since 1910. That year, Alberto Braniff made the first powered flight over Mexican soil, flying a French Voisin aircraft with a 50-horsepower engine.[9][10] On November 30, 1911, President Francisco I. Madero became the world’s first head of state to fly in an airplane, piloted by Geo M. Dyott of Moisant International.[11]
In 1915, the site opened as Balbuena Military Airport, equipped with five runways.[12] A small civilian airport opened in 1928, with regular commercial service starting in 1929 and the official inauguration on May 15, 1931. On July 8, 1943, it was granted international status and launched its first international route to Los Angeles, operated by Mexicana de Aviación.[13]
From 1949 to 1951, the airport expanded with a new runway (05R-23L), an apron, a control tower, and administration offices. President Miguel Alemán inaugurated a renovated passenger terminal on November 19, 1952.[14] By 1956, the airport operated with four runways: 05L-23R (2,720 metres (8,920 ft)), 05R-23L (3,000 metres (9,800 ft)), featuring electric lights for night-time service; 13-31 (2,300 metres (7,500 ft)), built to replace Runway 14-32, which was too close to adjacent residential areas; and Runway 5 Auxiliary (759 metres (2,490 ft)).[15]
On December 2, 1963, the airport's name changed from "Aeropuerto Central" (Central Airport) to "Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México" (Mexico City International Airport).[16] In the 1970s, the two shortest runways (13/31 and 5 Auxiliary) were closed to facilitate the construction of a social housing complex in that area, named Unidad Fiviport.[17][18][19] This left the airport with its current two-runway layout. The Mexico City Area Control Center (ACC) began operating on November 24, 1978, and remains in service.[16][20]
Expansion and decentralization
The airport’s location in a densely populated area restricts infrastructure expansion. The proximity of the two parallel runways prevents fully independent simultaneous operations, limiting the airport’s capacity.[21]
The terminal was expanded in 1980, doubling its capacity. In 1990, the terminal was reconfigured to separate domestic and international operations. On April 11, 1994, a new international section opened through a joint venture between Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares (ASA) and Hakim Grupo Industrial.[22][23]
In the 1990s, Mexicana began decentralizing operations to reduce congestion, shifting many flights to Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Mérida. In 1994, all general aviation operations were moved to Toluca International Airport.[24] Since then, general aviation has been prohibited, with only military, government, commercial, and authorized flights permitted. In 2001, a satellite concourse with eight gates was added east of the main terminal.[25]
Congestion challenges
In 2002, President Vicente Fox's administration proposed a new airport on a 5,000 hectares (12,000 acres) site in Atenco and Texcoco. However, the Atenco project faced significant local opposition, particularly from the Community Front in Defense of Land (Spanish: Frente del Pueblo en Defensa de La Tierra, FPDT), representing locals facing displacement. Violent clashes forced the cancellation of the project later that year.[26]
Following the cancellation of the Atenco project, the federal government announced an extension to the existing terminal in 2003, increasing its annual capacity from 20 to 32 million passengers. The project added 48,000 square metres (520,000 sq ft) of new construction and renovated 42,000 square metres (450,000 sq ft), including new check-in areas, commercial zones, a departures concourse, and a long-distance bus terminal with direct access to nearby neighborhoods.[27]
Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, political initiatives aimed at establishing nearby airports such as Puebla, Toluca, Cuernavaca, and Querétaro as supplementary options for serving the Mexico City Area were introduced. This initiative, known as the Metropolitan Airport System, aimed to reduce pressure on Mexico City International Airport.[28]
Terminal 2 was inaugurated on November 15, 2007, and fully opened in March 2008. It increased the number of gates by 40% and overall capacity by 15%. Most SkyTeam members—except Air France and KLM—moved operations to the new terminal.[29]
Replacement controversy
In 2014, aviation authorities declared Mexico City’s airspace saturated, capping operations at 61 per hour between 07:00 and 23:59.[30] That year, President Peña Nieto’s administration launched the Texcoco Airport project.[31][32][33] Positioned as Mexico's largest public infrastructure project in a century, it aimed to replace the aging Mexico City International Airport by 2023, featuring a state-of-the-art terminal of 560,000 square metres (6,000,000 sq ft) and six runways.[34][35][36] However, López Obrador, then a presidential candidate, campaigned against the project, sparking political controversy.[37]
Upon assuming the presidency, López Obrador's administration held a controversial public referendum on whether to cancel Texcoco.[38] Despite criticism over its legality and transparency, the project was cancelled, and construction began on Felipe Ángeles International Airport at Santa Lucía, which opened in 2022. Intended as a secondary airport for Mexico City, it has struggled to attract airlines and passengers.[39][40]
On July 23, 2020, Terminal 2’s Pier L extension opened, adding seven gates to reduce bus usage. However, in 2022, a new saturation declaration reaffirmed the 61-operations-per-hour cap, effective 05:00–23:59 at Terminal 1 and 06:00–23:00 at Terminal 2, maintaining the 61 operations/hour limit.[41] In 2023, the Mexican government attempted to decongest the airport by relocating all cargo flights to Felipe Ángeles Airport, citing safety and congestion concerns.[42] In 2025, an MXN 8 billion (approx. USD 460 million) renovation began, scheduled for completion by mid-2026, aiming to improve operations and prepare for Mexico’s role in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[43][44]
Facilities
The airport is located in the neighborhood of Peñón de los Baños within Venustiano Carranza, one of the sixteen boroughs of Mexico City, situated 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) east of Downtown Mexico City. Surrounded by the built-up areas of Gustavo A. Madero borough to the north and Venustiano Carranza borough to the west, south, and east, the airport's runways, running southwest–northeast, contribute to overflying problems and noise pollution over Mexico City during landings with a northeast wind.[45][46]
Being a hot and high airport at an elevation of 2,230 metres (7,320 ft) above sea level, aircraft departing or arriving suffer from degraded performance due to the thinner air at such a high elevation. The field itself spans 747 hectares (1,850 acres), featuring two parallel runways, less than 300 metres (980 ft) apart, hindering simultaneous operations. Runway 05L/23R is 3,900 metres (12,800 ft) long, and runway 05R/23L is 3,950 metres (12,960 ft) long. North of the airfield houses Terminal 1, cargo facilities, maintenance hangars, and administration buildings. On its northern edge, Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares (ASA), a government-owned corporation, has its headquarters.[47][48] South of the airfield, there is Terminal 2, maintenance hangars, police and Mexican Airspace Navigation Services facilities, and a military complex.
Air Force Base No. 19 (Spanish: Base Aérea Militar No. 19 Ciudad de México) (B.A.M. 19) is located on the airport grounds, adjacent to Terminal 2. It serves as the home for the High Command Special Air Transport Unit (UETAAM) managing a diverse fleet of aircraft that includes the Boeing 737, IAI 201, JetStar, King Air, SA 330J, and UH-60 Black Hawk. It also hosts the General Coordination of the Presidential Air Transport Unit. B.A.M. 19 features an apron and several hangars, one of which is called the Presidential Hangar, used for receiving state visits and presidential travels.[49] In addition to these, it includes administrative buildings and various other facilities for accommodating Air Force personnel.[50]
Mexico City Area Control Center (ACC) is one of four Area Control Centres in Mexico, with the others being the Mazatlán ACC, Monterrey ACC, and Mérida ACC. It operates under the Mexican Airspace Navigation Services, (Spanish: Servicios a la Navegación en el Espacio Aéreo Mexicano). Mexico ACC provides air traffic control services to aircraft within the Mexico Flight Data Region (FDRG). This region includes the central portion of Mexico. It shares boundaries with six other Area Control Centers. To the north, it is adjacent to the Monterrey ACC, while to the east, it borders the Merida ACC. To the west, it borders the Mazatlán ACC, and to the south, it borders the Mazatlán Oceanic (MMFO).
The airport features 95 hardstands for aircraft, with 63 connected via jet bridges to the terminals (33 in Terminal 1 and 30 in Terminal 2) and 32 remote stands. With an average of 1,056 daily operations, it has one of the highest numbers for any two-runway airport globally.
Terminals
Terminal 1
Terminal 1, operational since 1958, has undergone several expansions, with significant upgrades in 1970, 1989, 1998, 2000, and 2004, resulting in a total surface area of 542,000 square metres (5,830,000 sq ft). The terminal is an 800 metres (2,600 ft) long, two-story building, with international services located in the eastern section and domestic services in the west. The ground floor accommodates all arrival facilities, including 22 baggage claim carousels, as well as domestic check-in areas for Volaris, Viva, and Magnicharters (A1, A2, B, C, D, D1), as well as a commercial corridor along the street hosting snack kiosks, banks, souvenir shops and car rental services. The top floor comprises international check-in areas (F1, F2, F3), food courts, restaurants, multiple security checkpoints, and a 900 metres (3,000 ft) long departures concourse (gates 1 to 28) connected via a walkway to a satellite building (gates 29-36).
Terminal 1 offers 33 contact gates with jet bridges and 20 remote positions. Gates 1 to 18 primarily serve domestic flights, while gates 19 to 36 cater to international routes. Passengers using remote gates are transported by bus. The terminal also houses administrative offices, two long-distance bus terminals, and parking facilities available for 5,500 vehicles.
Terminal 1 features various VIP lounges, including the Admirals Club by American Airlines, Elite Lounge by MasterCard, Salón Centurión by American Express, Salón Beyond by Citibanamex, Sala Avianca (Avianca), The Grand Lounge Elite (Air France-KLM-ANA-Visa), Iberia VIP Lounge (Iberia-British Airways), Televisa VIP Lounge, Terraza Elite, The Grand Lounge Elite, The Grand Lounge Elite 19, The Lounge by Global Network, United Club by United Airlines, and VIPort Lounge.
Hotel services within Terminal 1 include the Camino Real with 600 rooms, the Hilton with 110 rooms, and the Courtyard Mexico City Airport with 288 rooms. Nearby hotels accessible from the terminal include izZzleep Hotel, Fiesta Inn Aeropuerto México, Holiday Inn México Dalí Aeropuerto, City Express Aeropuerto Ciudad de México, Hotel Grand Prix, Hotel Riazor, NH Aeropuerto T2 México, and We Hotel Aeropuerto.
Terminal 1 is served by Volaris, Viva, Magnicharters, Air Canada, United Airlines, American Airlines, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Air France, KLM, Iberia, British Airways, All Nippon Airways, China Southern Airlines, Emirates, Hainan Airlines, Avianca, Avianca Costa Rica, Avianca El Salvador, LATAM Brasil, LATAM Chile, LATAM Perú, Volaris Costa Rica, and Volaris El Salvador.
Terminal 2
Operations at Terminal 2 commenced on November 15, 2007, with inaugural flights by Delta Air Lines, followed by Aeroméxico, Copa, LAN, and Continental Airlines. Former President Felipe Calderón formally inaugurated Terminal 2 on March 26, 2008. Despite the initial plan for all SkyTeam member airlines to use the terminal, Air France and KLM opted to remain at Terminal 1. Currently, Terminal 2 serves as the main hub for Aeromexico. Due to capacity constraints at Terminal 2, some of Aeromexico's domestic services temporarily operated from Terminal 1 between 2021 and 2023.[51]
The terminal spans a total surface area of 288,000 square metres (3,100,000 sq ft). Arrivals are handled on the lower level, featuring 15 baggage claim carousels, customs and immigration facilities, and an arrivals hall with a long-distance bus terminal. The upper level includes three check-in areas (L1-L3), two security checkpoints, and a main concourse connected to three piers. A mezzanine houses VIP lounges and administrative offices.
Three piers contain food courts, duty-free shops, and 30 gates (numbered 52 to 81), all equipped with jetbridges. The northern pier hosts gates 52-62, and the southern pier has gates 63-75. In 2020, the terminal underwent its only expansion with the inauguration of Pier L, a new infrastructure located at the southern end, adjacent to the airport's boundary with Boulevard Fuerza Aérea Mexicana.[52] Gates 75 to 81, dedicated to serving Aeromexico Connect services with narrow-body aircraft, are situated here. Due to the building's narrowness, it lacks commercial amenities. Additionally, there are 10 remote positions accessible via bus.
Terminal 2 provides passengers access to various VIP lounges, including HSBC Premier Lounge, by HSBC, Salón Beyond by Citibanamex, Salón Centurión by American Express, Salón Premier Nacional by Aeroméxico, Salón Premier Internacional by Aeroméxico, Terraza Premier by Heineken and Aeroméxico, and VIPort Lounge. Furthermore, hotel services are available, including a 287-room NH Hotel, and izZzleep Hotel Terminal 2. The parking facilities accommodate 3,000 vehicles.
Airlines serving Terminal 2 include Aeroméxico, Aeroméxico Connect, Copa Airlines, and Delta Air Lines.
Inter-terminal transportation
The distance between the two terminals is 3 kilometres (1.9 mi). Passengers have two landside transportation options: A bus shuttle service named "inter-terminal transportation" connects Terminal 1 (entrance 6) and Terminal 2 (entrance 4).[53] The Aerotrén people mover system, available to passengers with a boarding pass and airline crew, operates at 45 kilometres per hour (28 mph) and has a daily capacity of 7,800 passengers.
Terminal 3 (proposed)
The intended construction of Terminal 3 faced cancellation amid the global COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The recovery of flight numbers to 2019 levels is anticipated to take several years. Furthermore, the opening of the Felipe Ángeles Airport in Mexico State in 2022 may pose challenges for the Mexico City Airport in achieving pre-pandemic levels.[8]
Airlines and destinations
Passenger
The airport connects 50 domestic and 64 international destinations in Latin America, North America, Europe and Asia. Aeromexico serves the largest number of cities from any Latin American hub (80), 46 domestic and 34 international.[54] It also operates the most departures and most destinations from the airport followed by Volaris. The most prominent foreign airlines are United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Avianca Holdings. Apart from the scheduled airlines mentioned earlier, Mexico City Airport is utilized by several other carriers for chartered flights, such as Sunwing Airlines.
Notes:
a: China Southern’s flights to Shenzhen make a stop in Tijuana. However, the airline does not have traffic rights to transport passengers solely between Mexico City and Tijuana.
b: Hainan Airlines’ flights to Beijing–Capital make a stop in Tijuana. However, the airline does not have traffic rights to transport passengers solely between Mexico City and Tijuana.
c: Turkish Airlines’ flights to Istanbul make a stop in Cancún. However, the airline does not have traffic rights to transport passengers solely between Mexico City and Cancún.
Cargo
As of January 2022, 20 cargo airlines operated direct flights from Mexico City Airport to destinations across Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Africa, and East Asia. However, in July 2023, a government decree relocated all cargo operations to Felipe Ángeles International Airport.[71][72]
Destination maps
Mexico City Domestic destinations from Mexico City International Airport Red = Year-round destination Blue = Future destination Green = Seasonal destination |
Mexico City North American, Central American and Caribbean destinations from Mexico City International Airport Red = Year-round destination Blue = Future destination Green = Seasonal destination |
South American destinations from Mexico City International Airport Red = Year-round destination Blue = Future destination Green = Seasonal destination |
European and Asian destinations from Mexico City International Airport Red = Year-round destination Blue = Future destination Green = Seasonal destination |
Statistics
In 2024, Mexico City International Airport handled 45,359,485 passengers, making it the busiest airport in Mexico and the second busiest in Latin America. It held the top spot in the region from 2016 to 2023 but has seen a downward trend due to the opening of Mexico City-AIFA International Airport. It remains the busiest airport in North America outside the United States. On a typical day, over 120,000 passengers travel through the airport.[6]
The broader Mexico City Airport System, which includes Mexico City-AIFA International Airport and Toluca International Airport, handled 53,411,587 passengers in 2024, making it the second-busiest metropolitan airport system in Latin America and 34th globally.[3]
For international traffic, the airport served 17,116,325 passengers, ranking second in Mexico and third in Latin America. The Shenzhen–Mexico City route by China Southern ranks as the 9th longest flight globally in Summer 2024, covering 14,124 km.[73]
With 323,025 aircraft movements in 2024, it retained its position as the busiest airport in Mexico and Latin America. Despite having only two runways, it remains one of the busiest dual-runway airports globally.[6] In cargo operations, the airport processed 240,035 tons in 2024, ranking second in Mexico after Mexico City-AIFA International Airport and second in Latin America. The airport directly supports 35,000 jobs and indirectly influences another 15,000 in the surrounding area.[74]
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Year | Domestic | % change | International | % change | Total | % change |
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2024 | 55,905.2 | 23.3 | 184,129.4 | 50.9 | 240,034.6 | 46.4 |
2023 | 72,921.4 | 16.3 | 374,965.8 | 22.5 | 447,887.2 | 21.5 |
2022 | 87,101.2 | 8.7 | 483,707.8 | 2.4 | 570,809.0 | 0.5 |
2021 | 95,377.9 | 19.9 | 472,401.2 | 21.0 | 567,779.1 | 18.4 |
2020 | 79,536.3 | 24.1 | 390,178.0 | 13.5 | 469,714.3 | 15.5 |
2019 | 104,832.5 | 3.0 | 451,309.8 | 6.0 | 556,142.3 | 4.4 |
2018 | 101,774.72 | 2.49 | 479,900.56 | 9.58 | 581,675.28 | 8.27 |
2017 | 99,303.94 | 8.15 | 437,958.75 | 11.83 | 537,262.69 | 11.13 |
2016 | 91,820.00 | 11.84 | 391,613.40 | 7.35 | 483,433.40 | 8.17 |
2015 | 82,100.42 | 21.92 | 364,814.69 | 10.14 | 446,915.11 | 12.13 |
2014 | 67,341.85 | 5.75 | 331,214.62 | 5.85 | 398,556.47 | 5.83 |
2013 | 63,678.54 | 19.05 | 312,911.31 | 1.71 | 376,589.85 | 5.15 |
2012 | 78,666.10 | 4.01 | 318,351.98 | 3.38 | 397,018.08 | 3.51 |
2011 | 81,953.37 | 3.41 | 329,502.22 | 6.90 | 411,455.59 | 4.68 |
2010 | 84,846.88 | 1.01 | 308,228.992 | 29.98 | 393,075.87 | 22.40 |
2009 | 83,999.43 | 13.47 | 237,134.01 | 15.01 | 321,133.44 | 14.61 |
2008 | 97,070.08 | - | 279,025.63 | - | 376,095.71 | - |
Busiest routes
Rank | Airport | Passengers | YoY % change | Ranking | Airline(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Quintana Roo, Cancún | 1,665,578 | 21.66% | Aeroméxico, Aeroméxico Connect, Magnicharters, Viva, Volaris | |
2 | Nuevo León, Monterrey | 1,578,366 | 9.36% | Aeroméxico, Viva, Volaris | |
3 | Jalisco, Guadalajara | 1,414,248 | 6.70% | Aeroméxico, Viva, Volaris | |
4 | Baja California, Tijuana | 1,099,156 | 9.00% | Aeroméxico, Viva, Volaris | |
5 | Yucatán, Mérida | 843,225 | 11.44% | Aeroméxico, Aeroméxico Connect, Magnicharters, Viva, Volaris | |
6 | Jalisco, Puerto Vallarta | 514,591 | 9.48% | Aeroméxico, Aeroméxico Connect, Magnicharters, Viva, Volaris | |
7 | Sonora, Hermosillo | 441,719 | 10.11% | 1 | Aeroméxico, Aeroméxico Connect, Viva, Volaris |
8 | Tabasco, Villahermosa | 437,941 | 1.62% | 3 | Aeroméxico, Aeroméxico Connect, Viva, Volaris |
9 | Baja California Sur, San José del Cabo | 413,573 | 23.77% | 2 | Aeroméxico, Aeroméxico Connect, Magnicharters, Viva, Volaris |
10 | Chihuahua, Chihuahua | 390,318 | 1.24% | 2 | Aeroméxico, Aeroméxico Connect, Viva, Volaris |
11 | Chiapas, Tuxtla Gutiérrez | 388,054 | 13.12% | 1 | Aeroméxico, Aeroméxico Connect, Viva, Volaris |
12 | Chihuahua, Ciudad Juárez | 377,685 | 18.37% | 3 | Aeroméxico, Aeroméxico Connect, Viva, Volaris |
13 | Oaxaca, Oaxaca | 335,090 | 6.65% | Aeroméxico, Aeroméxico Connect, Viva, Volaris | |
14 | Sinaloa, Mazatlán | 308,599 | 10.10% | 3 | Aeroméxico, Aeroméxico Connect, Viva, Volaris |
15 | Veracruz, Veracruz | 285,909 | 3.98% | 3 | Aeroméxico, Aeroméxico Connect, Viva, Volaris |
16 | Oaxaca, Huatulco | 260,362 | 21.78% | 2 | Aeroméxico, Aeroméxico Connect, Viva, Volaris |
17 | Oaxaca, Puerto Escondido | 259,398 | 21.98% | 2 | Aeroméxico, Aeroméxico Connect, Magnicharters, Viva, Volaris |
28 | Coahuila, Torreón | 257,315 | 0.19% | 2 | Aeroméxico, Aeroméxico Connect, Viva, Volaris |
19 | Sinaloa, Culiacán | 219,021 | 16.74% | Aeroméxico, Aeroméxico Connect, Viva, Volaris | |
20 | Baja California, Mexicali | 202,729 | 35.62% | 4 | Aeroméxico, Viva, Volaris |
Rank | Airport | Passengers | YoY % change | Ranking | Airline(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Spain, Madrid | 577,191 | 11.59% | Aeroméxico, Iberia | |
2 | United States, Los Angeles | 470,894 | 5.50% | Aeroméxico, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Viva, Volaris | |
3 | Colombia, Bogotá | 442,118 | 3.62% | 1 | Aeroméxico, Avianca, Volaris |
4 | United States, Houston–Intercontinental | 423,418 | 3.88% | 1 | Aeroméxico, Aeroméxico Connect, United Airlines, Viva, Volaris |
5 | United States, Miami | 402,019 | 4.88% | Aeroméxico, American Airlines, Volaris | |
6 | United States, New York–JFK | 399,756 | 9.46% | Aeroméxico, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Viva | |
7 | United States, Chicago–O'Hare | 384,979 | 12.48% | Aeroméxico, United Airlines, Viva, Volaris | |
8 | United States, Dallas/Fort Worth | 301,215 | 7.55% | Aeroméxico Connect, American Airlines, Viva, Volaris | |
9 | France, Paris–Charles de Gaulle | 292,871 | 10.24% | Aeroméxico, Air France | |
10 | Panama, Panama City–Tocumen | 262,658 | 5.65% | Copa Airlines | |
11 | United States, Atlanta | 256,915 | 5.87% | Delta Air Lines | |
12 | United States, San Francisco | 244,586 | 3.18% | Aeroméxico, United Airlines | |
13 | Costa Rica, San José (CR) | 203,395 | 3.24% | 2 | Aeroméxico, Aeroméxico Connect, Avianca Costa Rica, Volaris Costa Rica |
14 | United States, Las Vegas | 201,574 | 4.08% | 3 | Aeroméxico, Viva, Volaris |
15 | Guatemala, Guatemala City | 199,856 | 3.02% | 1 | Aeroméxico, Aeroméxico Connect, Volaris Costa Rica |
16 | United States, Orlando | 199,505 | 0.10% | 2 | Aeroméxico, Volaris |
17 | The Netherlands, Amsterdam | 172,148 | 6.16% | 2 | Aeroméxico, KLM |
18 | Peru, Lima | 168,866 | 4.77% | 2 | Aeroméxico, LATAM Perú, Volaris |
19 | United States, San Antonio | 164,547 | 9.61% | 2 | Aeroméxico, Aeroméxico Connect, Viva, Volaris |
20 | Canada, Toronto-Pearson | 163,185 | 22.33% | 7 | Aeroméxico, Air Canada |
Ground transportation
Metrobús
Metrobus Line 4 provides an express service linking Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 directly to San Lázaro Metro Station. San Lázaro Metro Station is served by Metro Lines 1 and B and it is adjacent to the TAPO (Terminal de Autobuses de Pasajeros de Oriente), the largest long-distance bus terminal in Mexico City. TAPO offers bus services to central, eastern, and southern Mexico.
Terminal 1 features a dedicated Metrobus stop at Entrance 7, and Terminal 2 has its Metrobus stop at Entrance 2. Passengers can access the service by obtaining a Metrobus Card from vending machines at these bus stops. The fare for the service to San Lázaro is 30 Mexican Pesos, and the cost of the card is 21 Mexican Pesos as of 2024. The Metrobus services operate from 5 AM to midnight.[77]
Service | Destinations [departing from the airport] | Operator |
---|---|---|
San Lázaro Metro Station/(TAPO bus terminal) | Metrobús |
Metro Station
Terminal 1 is connected to the Terminal Aérea metro station, a part of Mexico City Metro Line 5 running from Pantitlán metro station to Politécnico metro station. It is linked to Terminal 1 through an open-air walkway starting at Entrance 1. The Terminal Aérea Metro station is also served by Trolley bus line 4 in the northbound direction, following a route similar to Metro line 2 but branching towards El Rosario metro station.
Terminal 2, on the other hand, lacks a nearby metro station. However, it is an 800 metres (2,600 ft) walk from Pantitlán metro station, served by Metro lines 1, 5, 9, A, and various local buses.
Long-distance Buses
In Terminal 1, the Long-distance Bus terminal, also known as Terminal de Autobuses or Autobuses Foráneos, serves various bus companies.
Terminal 1 features a specific terminal for the ADO bus company, named ADO Llegadas Nacionales, situated next to the Hotel Camino Real.
In Terminal 2, the long-distance bus terminal, labeled "Transportación Terrestre," or "Autobuses Foráneos" is on the ground floor next to arrivals Hall Q.
Terminal 1 Terminal de Autobuses Foráneos | ||
---|---|---|
Bus Company | Type of Service | Destinations |
ADO | Long distance coach | Puebla CAPU, Puebla Paseo Destino |
ADO conecta | Shuttle service | Mexico City-Felipe Ángles Airport (AIFA) |
Caminante | Long distance coach | Toluca Tollocan |
Estrella Blanca | Pachuca | |
Estrella Roja | Puebla CAPU, Puebla Paseo Destino | |
Primera Plus | Querétaro Central, Querétaro 5 de Febrero, Celaya, San Juan del Río | |
Pullman de Morelos | Cuernavaca Casino | |
Terminal 1 ADO Llegadas Nacionales | ||
ADO | Long distance couch | Córdoba, Orizaba, Veracruz |
ADO Aeropuerto | Shuttle service | Xalapa |
ADO GL | First class long-distance coach | Oaxaca |
Diamante | Long distance coach | Acapulco Costera |
Terminal 2 Autobuses Foráneos | ||
ADO | Long distance coach | Puebla CAPU, Puebla Paseo Destino |
Caminante | Toluca Tollocan | |
Estrella Roja | Puebla CAPU, Puebla Paseo Destino | |
Primera Plus | Querétaro Central, Querétaro 5 de Febrero, Celaya, San Juan del Río |
Bus service to Felipe Angeles Airport
Transportation options to Mexico City’s secondary airport, Felipe Ángeles International Airport, are limited. Shuttle services from Terminal 1 are provided by ADO and Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares.
Authorized taxis
Taxis operate in Terminals 1 and 2 and there are two models of service: ordinary service in a sedan-type vehicle for four passengers, and executive service in eight-passenger vans. There are five taxi groups in operation, and these are the only taxis authorized by the Mexican Department of Transportation (SCT).
Accidents and incidents
- On September 26, 1949, a Mexicana de Aviacion DC-3 crashed into the Popocatepetl volcano while approaching the airport with clouds and turbulence en route from Tapachula; all 23 people on board, including actress Blanca Estela Pavon and senator Gabriel Ramos Millan, died.[78]
- On April 10, 1968, an Aerovías Rojas Douglas R4D-3 crashed on approach, killing all eighteen people on board. The aircraft was operating a domestic scheduled passenger flight, which was the airline's inaugural flight from Aguascalientes International Airport to Mexico City.[79]
- On October 31, 1979, Western Airlines Flight 2605 crash-landed. The crew of the DC-10 landed on a closed runway and hit construction vehicles on the runway. There were 73 fatalities (including one on the ground) and 16 survivors.[80][81]
- On December 12, 1981, a bomb exploded inside the passenger cabin of a parked Aeronica Boeing 727-100, tearing a hole into the fuselage. The captain, two flight attendants, and a groundworker were injured. They had been on board the aircraft for pre-departure checks for a scheduled passenger flight to San Salvador and onwards to Managua's Augusto C. Sandino International Airport.[82]
- An Aero California DC-9-15 overran a runway on July 21, 2004, during an intense storm at the airport. The torrential downpour was so intense that visibility was barely 50 meters. The control tower had to ask that several vehicles go out to comb the airfield to find out where the aircraft was. There were no victims, but the aircraft was scrapped. A woman died later due to a heart attack.[83]
- On November 4, 2008, a Mexican Interior Ministry LearJet 45 crashed on approach around 18:45 local time. On board was Mexican Secretary of the Interior Juan Camilo Mouriño, who was a top aide to President Felipe Calderón. Mouriño was in charge of the fight against the drug trade in Mexico. Also on board was José Luis Santiago Vasconcelos, former assistant attorney general and current head of the federal technical secretariat for implementing the recent constitutional reforms on criminal justice and public security. All eight on board died, along with eight others on the ground. 40 others on the ground were injured. The crash was attributed to pilot error.[84]
- On September 9, 2009, hijacked Aeroméxico Flight 576 landed at Mexico City International Airport from Cancún International Airport.[85]
- On September 13, 2009, a Lufthansa Cargo McDonnell-Douglas MD-11 was damaged in a heavy landing. Post-landing inspection revealed that there were wrinkles in the fuselage skin and the nose gear was bent.[86] According to a Lufthansa spokesman, the aircraft would be repaired and returned to full service.[87]
See also
- List of the busiest airports in Mexico
- List of airports in Mexico
- List of airports by ICAO code: M
- List of busiest airports in North America
- List of the busiest airports in Latin America
- List of busiest city airport systems by passenger traffic
- List of cities with more than one commercial airport
- Transportation in Mexico
- Transport in Mexico City
- Tourism in Mexico
- List of Mexican military installations
- Mexican Air Force
- Valley of Mexico
- Greater Mexico City
- Mexico City Texcoco Airport
- Felipe Ángeles International Airport
References
- ^ "Airport information for MMMX". World Aero Data. Archived from the original on March 5, 2019. Data current as of October 2006. Source: DAFIF.
- ^ Airport information for MEX at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF (effective October 2006).
- ^ a b c "AICM in Numbers, December 2024" (PDF). Mexico City International Airport. December 2024. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "José Ramón Rivera, director del AICM: "El desorden que había con las aerolíneas está resuelto"". September 23, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
Llegas a un área donde hay unos 1.200 empleados e inmediatamente identificas quiénes son los que se están portando bien y quiénes no.
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- ^ Elizalde, Triunfo; Vargas, Rosa Elvira (October 5, 2006). "Decretará Fox que el AICM se denomine Benito Juárez" [President Vicente Fox decrees official name for Mexico City Airport]. La Jornada (in Spanish). Archived from the original on September 8, 2014.
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- ^ "AICM Gets MX$8 Billion Renovation for 2026 World Cup".
- ^ "Anuncian remodelación del AICM rumbo al Mundial 2026 con inversión de 8 mmdp" (in Spanish).
- ^ "Unplanned airport planning in Mexico City". Academia Education. Archived from the original on September 8, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
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- ^ "ASA's address". Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
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- ^ "AICM cancels Aeromexico's operations at T1". MexicoNow. August 3, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
- ^ "Entra en operaciones el Dedo "L" de la T2 del AICM".
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- ^ Aeromexico. "Aeromexico, The Airline Serving The Largest Number Of Cities From A Hub In Latin America". www.prnewswire.com (Press release).
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External links
- Media related to Mexico City International Airport at Wikimedia Commons
- Mexico City International Airport travel guide from Wikivoyage
- Official Website
- Aeronautical chart and airport information for MMMX at SkyVector
- Current weather for MMMX at NOAA/NWS
- Mexico City International Airport information at Great Circle Mapper
- Accident history for MEX at Aviation Safety Network
- Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares (in Spanish)
- Independent information about Mexico City Airport
- Informational Guide to MEX - Non-Official
- Independent Mexico city Airport website
- Aeromexico travel Information - Mexico City International Airport