Mexico City Airport: A Sprawling Hub's Size And Scope

Mexico City International Airport, also known as Benito Juárez International Airport, is the main international airport serving Mexico City. It is one of the busiest airports in the world, ranking 17th in 2022. With an average of 1,056 daily aircraft movements, it is the busiest two-runway airport globally. The airport is located 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) east of Downtown Mexico City and is easily accessible by taxi, car, or Metrobus. The field itself spans 747 hectares (1,850 acres), featuring two parallel runways. In 2025, a renovation project worth approximately 460 million USD was launched to improve passenger experience and operational efficiency.

Passenger numbers

Mexico City International Airport, officially known as Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez (Benito Juárez International Airport), is the primary international airport serving Greater Mexico City. It is one of the busiest airports in Latin America, ranking as the 17th busiest in the world and eighth in North America as of 2022, based on passenger traffic and aircraft movements.

The airport is served by more than 25 airlines, with flights to over 100 destinations across Mexico, the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Aeromexico, the country's flag carrier, serves the largest number of cities from any Latin American hub (80), with 46 domestic and 34 international destinations. It also operates the most departures and most destinations from the airport, followed by Volaris. The airport also serves as a hub for Viva Aerobus and is a focus city for Magnicharters.

In 2020, Mexico City International Airport was the busiest airport in Mexico, handling almost 22 million passengers. This number increased significantly in 2021, with the airport accommodating more than 36 million passengers, a 64% increase compared to the previous year. The airport served 48,415,693 passengers in 2023 and 45,359,485 in 2024, with an average of 124,000 daily passengers.

The airport has two terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, which are connected by an internal train system. Most international flights operate from Terminal 1, while some domestic airlines use Terminal 2. Terminal 2 provides passengers with access to various VIP lounges, including those operated by HSBC, American Express, and Aeroméxico.

Airport size

Mexico City International Airport, also known as Benito Juárez International Airport, is one of the largest airports in the world. It is the busiest airport in Mexico and Latin America, ranking as the 17th busiest in the world and eighth in North America as of 2022. The airport is served by more than 25 airlines, offering direct flights to over 100 destinations worldwide. With an average of 1,056 daily aircraft movements, it is one of the busiest two-runway airports globally.

The airport is located in the neighbourhood of Peñón de los Baños within Venustiano Carranza, one of sixteen boroughs of Mexico City. It is situated 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) east of Downtown Mexico City. The airport's runways, running southwest to northeast, contribute to overflying issues and noise pollution during landings with a northeast wind. The airport itself spans 747 hectares (1,850 acres), featuring two parallel runways less than 300 metres (980 feet) apart, hindering simultaneous operations.

Being a "hot and high" airport, Mexico City International Airport sits at an elevation of 2,230 metres (7,320 feet) above sea level. Any aircraft departing or arriving at this altitude experiences degraded performance due to thinner air. To address the challenges posed by its high elevation, the airport features a lightweight glass and steel structure with a soaring vaulted roof, designed specifically for Mexico City's challenging soil conditions.

In 2025, an 8 billion MXN (approximately 460 million USD) renovation was initiated, aiming to enhance passenger experience and operational efficiency. This renovation is part of Mexico City's preparations for hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Location

Mexico City International Airport, also known as Benito Juárez International Airport, is located just outside the city centre of Mexico City, in the neighbourhood of Peñón de los Baños within Venustiano Carranza, one of the sixteen boroughs of Mexico City. The airport is situated 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) east of Downtown Mexico City. It is surrounded by the built-up areas of the Gustavo A. Madero borough to the north and the Venustiano Carranza borough to the west, south, and east. The airport's runways, running southwest-northeast, contribute to overflying issues and noise pollution over Mexico City during landings with a northeast wind.

Being a "hot and high" airport, Mexico City International Airport is located at an elevation of 2,230 metres (7,320 feet) above sea level. This high elevation results in degraded aircraft performance due to the thinner air. The airport field spans 747 hectares (1,850 acres) and features two parallel runways, less than 300 metres (980 feet) apart, hindering simultaneous operations.

The airport is conveniently accessible from the city centre by taxi, car, or Metrobus. It is designed to be easily navigable, with short walking distances and minimal level changes. The entire terminal is enclosed within a continuous lightweight gridshell, integrating the walls and roof into a single, flowing form.

Mexico City International Airport is part of a broader airport system that includes Toluca International Airport and Felipe Ángeles International Airport, which serves as the secondary airport for Mexico City.

Terminals

Mexico City International Airport, also known as Benito Juarez International Airport, is the largest and busiest airport in Mexico and Latin America. It has two terminals: Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, which are separated by 3 kilometres. Terminal 1 is located north of the airfield, and Terminal 2 is adjacent to Air Force Base No. 19 (B.A.M. 19).

Terminal 1 serves both domestic and international flights, while Terminal 2 is the newest terminal, having opened in 2007. Terminal 1 is served by a variety of international airlines, including Volaris, Magnicharters, Air Canada, United Airlines, American Airlines, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Air France, KLM, Iberia, and British Airways. Terminal 2 is the main hub for Aeroméxico, along with Aeroméxico Connect, the largest carrier in Mexico Airport, as well as Air France and United Airlines.

Both terminals offer a range of dining options, from quick bites to gourmet meals. Terminal 1 features Starbucks, Toks, and local Mexican cuisine, while Terminal 2 offers fast-food chains, Aeroméxico Lounge dining, and Mexican restaurants. There are also various cafes and coffee shops, including Starbucks and Coffee Brew Bar. For those seeking a more upscale dining experience, Terminal 1 houses the Camino Real hotel with 600 rooms, while Terminal 2 offers the American Express Centurion Lounge.

In terms of navigation, the terminals can be reached by Aerotrén and frequent shuttle buses operating daily from 5:00 am to 1:00 am. Tickets for the shuttle buses can be purchased on board. Security checkpoints and passport control are located in both terminals, with fast-track lanes available for an additional fee. Baggage claim areas are also conveniently located near the exit doors of the arrival halls in both terminals.

History

Mexico City International Airport, officially known as Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez (Benito Juárez International Airport), has a rich history that dates back to the early days of aviation in Mexico.

The airport was first inaugurated in 1939 as the Central Airport of Mexico City, or Puerto Aéreo Central de la Ciudad de México in Spanish. At that time, aviation was still in its relatively early days, and the airport served as a hub for charter flights and the growing tourism industry in Mexico. In 1949, the airport underwent a significant expansion, including the construction of a new runway, an apron, a control tower, and administration offices. By 1956, the airport operated four runways, with the capacity to handle jet-powered charter planes and increasing passenger traffic.

However, as the city grew and aviation demands increased, the airport faced challenges to expand due to its location in a densely populated area. Despite this, the airport continued to undergo renovations and expansions to accommodate growing air traffic. In 1978, the Mexico City Area Control Center (ACC) began operations, and in the 1980s and 1990s, the terminal was expanded to increase its capacity and functionality, including separating domestic and international facilities.

By the early 2000s, it became evident that a new, more extensive facility was needed to handle the increasing passenger traffic. In 2003, the federal government announced an extension to the existing terminal, increasing its capacity from 20 million to 32 million passengers annually. However, this was only a temporary solution as the airport was already operating over capacity by 2017, serving 46 million passengers.

In 2014, plans for a new, ambitious international airport were announced by then-President Enrique Peña Nieto. The project, designed by renowned architects Norman Foster and Fernando Romero, was expected to cost $13-14 billion and aimed to make Mexico City's airport the biggest in the Americas and the third-largest in the world. However, the project faced intense controversy due to its location on a former wetland, environmental concerns, and accusations of corruption. As of 2018, the fate of this new airport project remained uncertain.

Frequently asked questions