Exploring Mexico City: Multiple Airports, Countless Destinations

Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, is served by two airports: Mexico City-Juarez International Airport (MEX) and Mexico City-Felipe Angeles Airport (NLU). MEX, also known as Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez, is the primary international airport serving Greater Mexico City. 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. NLU, also known as Felipe Ángeles International Airport, is the newer of the two airports, having begun flight operations in 2022.

Benito Juarez International Airport: 11km from Mexico City, with international and domestic flights

Benito Juárez International Airport, also known as Mexico City International Airport, is located 11km from Mexico City. It is the busiest airport in Latin America, serving over 48 million passengers in 2023. The airport connects 50 domestic and 64 international destinations across Latin America, North America, Europe, and Asia.

Benito Juárez International Airport is served by more than 25 airlines, including Aeroméxico, Volaris, Viva, Magnicharters, United Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. The airport features two passenger terminals and two runways, with an average of 1,056 daily aircraft movements. The runways are nearly 4km long and handle air traffic serving 46 million people per year.

The airport offers a range of services and facilities, including medical facilities, ATMs, currency exchange kiosks, and a shoe shine service. There are also multiple lounges in both terminals, providing comfortable spaces for passengers to relax and enjoy refreshments. Terminal 1 is home to more than 30 restaurants and eateries, offering a variety of cuisines, while Terminal 2 features options such as La Taba Sports Bar and the El Fogoncito Mexican restaurant.

Benito Juárez International Airport is easily accessible from Mexico City by car, bus, or metro. The airport is well-connected to the city's highway network, and the journey typically takes around 20-30 minutes. There is also a shuttle service and the Aerotrén people mover system that connects Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.

Benito Juárez International Airport has been recognised for its contribution to the economy of Mexico City, directly supporting 35,000 jobs and influencing another 15,000 in the surrounding area. The airport has undergone significant renovations and expansions over the years to accommodate the growing demand for air travel in the region.

Felipe Ángeles International Airport: the capital's second airport, serving around 1 million people annually

Mexico City is served by two airports: Mexico City-Juarez International Airport (MEX) and Mexico City-Felipe Ángeles Airport (NLU). The former is the most important airport in Mexico, handling 46 million passengers per year.

Felipe Ángeles International Airport, located 35km north of Mexico City, is the capital's second airport. It was inaugurated in 2019 and began flight operations in 2022. The airport is served by a large terminal that accommodates both domestic and international flights. With three runways, two of which are 4.5km long, it currently serves around 1 million people per year.

The airport is named after General Felipe Ángeles, a significant figure in the Mexican Revolution. It is the second-largest airport by area in Mexico, covering 1,531 hectares (3,780 acres). The airport is owned by the Mexican government and operated by the Department of National Defense (SEDENA).

Felipe Ángeles International Airport is an important cargo airport, taking pressure off the older Mexico City-Juarez Airport. It is also a hub for some parts of the Mexican Air Force and charter flight services. The airport features a unique cultural corridor with three museums, including the Mammoth Museum, which showcases the nearly 200 mammoth fossils discovered during the airport's construction.

The airport has faced challenges with transportation logistics, and as of November 2023, accessibility remains insufficient. However, plans are underway to improve connections, including extending the Mexibús Line IV to the airport and creating a rail connection from the Buenavista station in central Mexico City.

Toluca International Airport: part of Mexico City's airport system, along with Felipe Ángeles and Benito Juárez

Mexico City is served by three airports: Toluca International Airport, Felipe Ángeles International Airport, and Benito Juárez International Airport.

Toluca International Airport, officially known as Aeropuerto Internacional Licenciado Adolfo López Mateos, is located in Toluca, 30 kilometres west of Mexico City. It serves as a secondary airport for Mexico City, handling both national and international flights. The airport is named after President Adolfo López Mateos and is operated by Administradora Mexiquense del Aeropuerto Internacional de Toluca. As of August 2024, the airport only serves domestic flights.

Toluca Airport plays a crucial role in addressing congestion at Mexico City's primary airport. It serves as the primary airport for executive and general aviation traffic in the region, ranking as the fifth busiest airport in Mexico for aircraft movements and cargo operations. The airport features a single-story passenger terminal with standard facilities, including arrival and departure areas, parking, check-in, security, a VIP lounge, shops, immigration, and baggage claim.

Felipe Ángeles International Airport, also known as Mexico City Felipe Ángeles International Airport or Mexico City-AIFA, is located in Zumpango, 35 kilometres north of Mexico City. It serves as the second airport for Greater Mexico City, accommodating domestic and international flights. The airport is named after General Felipe Ángeles, a significant figure in the Mexican Revolution, and is operated by the Department of National Defense (SEDENA).

Felipe Ángeles Airport features three runways, including the longest runways in the country, and a multi-story passenger terminal with separate arrival and departure services. The terminal includes check-in counters, self-service kiosks, drop-off counters, security check areas, and a departures concourse with 34 gates. The airport also has a Ground Transportation Terminal, providing parking, ticketing, bus services, and other amenities.

Benito Juárez International Airport, commonly known as Mexico City International Airport or Aeropuerto Internacional Ciudad de Mexico (AICM), is located in the eastern part of Mexico City. It is the busiest international airport in Mexico, with annual passenger traffic exceeding 48 million in 2023. The airport has two terminals, handling both international and domestic flights, and offers a range of services and facilities for passengers.

Licenciado Adolfo López Mateos International Airport: 64km from Mexico City, with international and domestic flights

Mexico City is served by two airports, with a third located nearby in Toluca. Licenciado Adolfo López Mateos International Airport, also known as Toluca International Airport, is situated 64km from Mexico City. The airport is a popular choice for private flyers, as it offers less congested airspace and proximity to Mexico City. With a runway capable of accommodating a wide range of aircraft sizes, it is well-equipped to handle the diverse requirements of private aviation. The airport is served by various Fixed-Base Operators (FBOs) offering services such as catering, high-speed WiFi, executive lounges, and meeting rooms.

Toluca International Airport is located about 10 miles west of Toluca's city centre and approximately 40 miles west of Mexico City. The airport is named after President Adolfo López Mateos and serves as a secondary airport for the Mexico City metropolitan area. It handles both national and international air traffic for the Metropolitan area of Toluca and is a primary airport for executive and general aviation traffic in the Greater Mexico City airspace.

Toluca International Airport is the fifth busiest airport in Mexico for aircraft movements and cargo operations. It is a primary base for charter airlines and a hub for the cargo airline TUM AeroCarga. The airport features multiple aprons and facilities for general and executive aviation, including logistics and courier companies, air taxi, VIP charters, aircraft management, air ambulance, cargo, and aircraft repair operations.

The passenger terminal at Toluca International Airport includes arrival and departure facilities with standard services such as parking, check-in, security, a VIP lounge, snack bars, shops, immigration and customs facilities, baggage claim areas, car rental services, taxi stands, and a departure concourse. The airport served 1,520,255 passengers in 2023.

Popular flight routes to and from Toluca International Airport include New York, Dallas, Phoenix, Miami, Los Angeles, Guadalajara, and Cabo San Lucas. The airport is situated at an elevation of 2,660 metres (8,730 ft), which imposes payload restrictions on aircraft. It boasts a 4,310-metre (14,140-ft) runway, the second longest in Mexico.

Mexico City International Airport: the busiest airport in Mexico and Latin America, with an average of 132,000 daily passengers

Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, is served by two airports: Mexico City-Juarez International Airport (MEX) and Mexico City-Felipe Angeles Airport (NLU). MEX, also known as Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez, is the primary international airport serving Greater Mexico City. 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. With an average of 132,000 daily passengers, MEX handled 46,200,529 passengers in 2022 and 48,415,693 in 2023.

MEX is served by more than 25 airlines, offering flights to over 100 destinations across Mexico, the Americas, Europe, and Asia. The airport features two passenger terminals and two runways, with a third terminal under construction. The terminals are equipped with various services, including banks, shops, airline headquarters, taxi and car rental services, restaurants, relaxation areas, and emergency services.

NLU, also known as Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) or Santa Lucía Airport, is the secondary airport of Mexico City. Located approximately 35 kilometres north of the city centre, it primarily handles domestic flights but also operates a limited number of international routes, mainly to destinations in the United States. NLU has a large terminal and three runways, two of which are 4.5 kilometres long. It served around one million passengers in 2022.

Both MEX and NLU are part of Mexico City's airport system, which also includes Toluca International Airport. MEX, situated 11 kilometres from the city centre, is easily accessible by various transportation options, including taxi services, shuttle buses, rideshare, and public transport such as the Metro and bus system.

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