Puebla, Mexico: Airport Accessibility And Travel Options

Puebla International Airport, officially Aeropuerto Internacional Hermanos Serdán, is an international airport located in Huejotzingo, Puebla, Mexico. The airport, which commenced operations in 1985, offers both domestic and international flights. It is one of the fastest-growing airports in Mexico, serving over one million passengers in 2024. The airport is located 20 km northwest of Puebla's city centre and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Puebla International Airport's location and transport links

Puebla International Airport, officially known as Aeropuerto Internacional Hermanos Serdán, is located in Huejotzingo, Puebla, Mexico. It is situated 20 kilometres northwest of Puebla's city centre and is around 30-40 minutes away from downtown Puebla by car. The airport is one of the fastest-growing in Mexico, serving over one million passengers in 2024. It handles both domestic and international flights, with destinations including Mexico City, Monterrey, Tijuana, the United States, Canada, and Central America.

The airport is located at an elevation of 2,244 metres above mean sea level and features a single runway with a length of 3,600 metres. The terminal building is a single-story structure that accommodates arrival and departure facilities for both domestic and international flights. It has a capacity of up to 450 passengers per hour, with five departure gates and an airport lounge managed by the Global Lounge Network.

In addition to passenger services, Puebla Airport serves as a hub for logistics and courier companies, handling various cargo operations. The airport provides comprehensive cargo management and commercial processing facilities, overseeing an annual cargo volume of two thousand tons. Items handled include textile products, vehicle motor parts, machinery, postal items, airborne parcel services, and perishable goods.

Transport links to and from Puebla International Airport include airport taxis, shared transportation, private transportation, car rentals, and buses. The airport is easily accessible by road and is well-connected to the surrounding areas. There is a direct bus service from the airport to Mexico City, and buses departing from Mexico City Airport to Puebla run regularly, with a journey time of approximately two hours.

The airport's history and ownership

The Puebla International Airport, officially known as the Aeropuerto Internacional Hermanos Serdán, is located in Huejotzingo, Puebla, Mexico. It is situated 14.4 miles from the city of Puebla and serves as a key gateway for travellers in central Mexico. The airport operates 24 hours a day, offering both domestic and international flights to destinations such as Mexico City, Monterrey, Tijuana, the US, Canada, and Central America.

The history of the airport began in 1985 when it commenced operations, with its inaugural flight arriving from Guadalajara, operated by Mexicana de Aviación. Initially serving as a domestic airport, it was designated as an international airport in 1996 and renamed "Hermanos Serdán" International Airport. The airport was named after Aquiles Serdán, Máximo Serdán, and María del Carmen Serdán, known as the Serdán siblings, who played a significant role in the Mexican Revolution.

In the early years of its operation, Puebla Air Lines connected the airport to major destinations within Mexico from 1993 to 1995. However, the airline ceased operations due to the Mexican peso crisis. In 2001, Operadora Estatal de Aeropuertos (OEA) took over the management and development of the airport, with shared ownership between the Puebla State Government (26%), Operadora Internacional de Aeropuertos (49%), and Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares (25%).

In 2011, budgetary issues led to the dissolution of OEA by the State Government of Puebla. As a result, Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares (ASA) assumed responsibility for the airport's operations. Throughout the following years, there were political initiatives to position Puebla Airport as a supplementary option for travellers, along with other nearby airports.

Currently, the airport is operated by Grupo Olmeca-Maya-Mexica (GAFSACOMM), a holding company that resulted from the Mexican government's merger of several state-operated airport companies in 2022. This merger was part of a broader strategy to involve the armed forces in significant infrastructure projects and civilian functions. The airport has experienced significant growth in recent years, crossing the one-million-passenger threshold for the first time in 2024.

Facilities and services offered

Puebla International Airport, officially known as Aeropuerto Internacional Hermanos Serdán, serves as a key gateway for travellers in central Mexico. The airport, located 20 km northwest of Puebla's city centre, offers both domestic and international flights. It is one of the fastest-growing airports in the country, serving over a million passengers in 2024.

Puebla International Airport provides a range of facilities and services for travellers:

• The airport operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, ensuring round-the-clock accessibility for passengers.
• It offers a variety of transportation options, including airport taxis, shared transportation, private transportation, car rentals, and buses.
• The terminal building accommodates both domestic and international flights within a single-story structure.
• The departures concourse consists of five gates and an airport lounge managed by the Global Lounge Network.
• The airport provides restaurants, duty-free shops, small convenience stores, and VIP lounges.
• Currency exchange offices are available for passengers' convenience.
• It serves as a hub for logistics and courier companies, handling a wide range of cargo, including textile products, vehicle motor parts, machinery, postal items, and perishable goods.
• The airport has a single runway with a length of 3,600 metres and an apron featuring 6 Category D aircraft stands, accommodating both commercial and cargo operations.
• Various airlines, such as MexicanaLink, Copa Airlines, Aeroméxico, Aero California, and American Eagle, offer flight services at the airport.

Cargo operations

Puebla International Airport (PBC) in Mexico handles both national and international air traffic for the Puebla Metropolitan Area, the fourth-largest metro area in Mexico. The airport also supports cargo services and various executive and general aviation activities. It is located in Huejotzingo, about 20 kilometres northwest of Puebla's city centre, and is operated by Grupo Olmeca-Maya-Mexica (GAFSACOMM), a holding company owned by the Mexican military.

The airport has seen significant growth in passenger numbers, operations, and cargo handling in recent years. In 2019, the airport handled around 840,000 kilograms of cargo, down from 1.24 million kilograms in 2018. The Government of Puebla aims to further consolidate the airport as a key cargo transportation hub in Mexico.

The airport has a single runway with a length of 3,600 metres and an apron featuring six Category D aircraft stands, accommodating both commercial and cargo operations. The Logistic Airport Centre, established in 2007, offers comprehensive cargo management and commercial processing facilities.

Currently, the airport operates six domestic destinations in Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuana, Cancun, Acapulco, and Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, as well as an international flight to Houston, Texas. Flights are operated by Volaris, Viva Aerobus, Aeromar, and United Express airlines. The airport can serve up to 450 passengers per hour and received a total of 565,387 passengers in 2021.

In recent years, the Mexican government has been working to boost the airport's commercial flights and take advantage of its cargo capabilities. During the visit of Mexico's Minister of Interior Adán Augusto López to Puebla in 2022, discussions were held regarding the creation of a logistics hub at the airport, assuring that all necessary requirements would be met to put the plan into action.

Passenger traffic and destinations

Puebla International Airport, officially known as Aeropuerto Internacional Hermanos Serdán, serves the city of Puebla in Mexico. The airport is located in Huejotzingo, around 20 kilometres northwest of Puebla's city centre. It is one of the fastest-growing airports in Mexico, serving 761,580 passengers in 2019 and crossing the one-million threshold for the first time in 2024 with 1,076,484 passengers.

The airport handles both domestic and international flights, connecting Puebla to major destinations within Mexico and abroad. Domestic destinations include Mexico City, Monterrey, and Tijuana. Internationally, the airport operates flights to the United States, Canada, and Central America.

Despite its potential to serve the Puebla Metropolitan Area, which is home to nearly three and a half million people, Puebla Airport's capacities remain underutilised. This is partly due to the proximity of the Mexico City International Airport, located less than 100 kilometres west of Puebla, which is easily accessible by highway and bus services. Additionally, the opening of the Mexico City-Felipe Angeles Airport has made it more challenging for Puebla Airport to attract commercial flights.

However, Puebla Airport still plays a significant role in cargo services and executive and general aviation activities. It serves as a hub for logistics and courier companies, handling a diverse range of cargo, including textile products, vehicle motor parts, machinery, postal items, and perishable goods. The airport's terminal building is equipped to handle up to 450 passengers per hour, with five departure gates and an airport lounge managed by the Global Lounge Network.

Frequently asked questions