Mexico City Airport: A Traveler's First Impression

what is mexico city airport like

Mexico City International Airport, officially named Benito Juárez International Airport, is the main international airport serving Greater Mexico City. It is the busiest airport in Mexico and Latin America, accommodating an average of 124,000 daily passengers. The airport has been criticised for its lack of gates, resulting in planes being parked far from the terminal and passengers being transported via bus. However, it offers various facilities and services, including duty-free shopping, dining options, currency exchange, and comfortable lounges. Mexico City's secondary airport, Felipe Ángeles International Airport, is located approximately 35 kilometres north of the city centre and has struggled to gain prominence.

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The airport is busy, congested, and criticised for poor service

Mexico City International Airport, officially named Benito Juárez International Airport, is the busiest airport in Mexico and Latin America. With an average of 124,000 daily passengers, the airport served 48,415,693 passengers in 2023 and 45,359,485 in 2024. It is one of the busiest two-runway airports in the world, with an average of 1,056 daily aircraft movements.

The airport has two large terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, which are 3 kilometres apart and connected by the Aerotrén and shuttle buses. Terminal 1 is the largest terminal in America, with 3 sections and 32 gates in total, while Terminal 2 has 2 halls with a combined total of 24 gates. Both terminals offer a range of facilities and services, including shops, duty-free stores, restaurants, cafes, bars, medical care, currency exchange, and ATMs.

To address the issues of congestion and poor service, the Mexican government has taken several measures. In 2025, an 8 billion MXN (approximately 460 million USD) renovation was launched, aiming to improve passenger experience and operational efficiency. Additionally, the government has relocated all cargo aircraft landing at Mexico City to Felipe Ángeles Airport to reduce congestion and protect the safety of operations.

Despite these efforts, some travellers continue to express dissatisfaction with their experience at Mexico City International Airport, emphasising the need for careful planning and consideration when using this airport.

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It has two terminals, with shops, restaurants, and transport options

Mexico City International Airport, officially named Benito Juárez International Airport, is the main international airport serving Greater Mexico City. It is located in the Peñón de los Baños neighbourhood in Venustiano Carranza, 5 kilometres (3 miles) east of Downtown Mexico City. The airport has two terminals, with a variety of shops, restaurants and transport options.

Terminal 1 is the largest terminal in America, with 3 sections and 32 gates. Terminal 2 has 2 halls, K and H, with 14 gates between them. The two terminals are 3 kilometres apart and are connected by the Aerotrén and Shuttle Buses.

The airport offers a range of facilities, including duty-free shopping, currency exchange services, medical care, ATMs, and a variety of dining options, including restaurants, cafes, and bars. There are also comfortable lounges for travellers to relax in.

In terms of transportation, the airport provides taxi services, shuttle buses, and rideshare options. Public transportation options include the Metrobus Line 4, which links the airport with downtown, and the Metro, with the closest station being Terminal Aérea Station. There are also several bus routes connecting the terminals with different points in Mexico City.

Mexico City International Airport is a busy airport, serving an average of 124,000 daily passengers and ranking as one of the busiest two-runway airports in the world. The airport has been criticised for not having enough gates, resulting in planes being parked far from the terminals and passengers being transported by bus. However, expansions and renovations have been carried out to improve the airport's capacity and efficiency.

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It is located in the Peñón de los Baños neighbourhood, 5km from downtown Mexico City

Mexico City International Airport, officially named Benito Juárez International Airport, is located in the Peñón de los Baños neighbourhood, 5km from downtown Mexico City. It is situated within Venustiano Carranza, one of sixteen boroughs of Mexico City. The airport is surrounded by built-up areas, including the Gustavo A. Madero borough to the north and the Venustiano Carranza borough to the west, south, and east.

Being the main international airport serving Greater Mexico City, it is the busiest airport in Mexico and Latin America. It operates both domestic and international flights, connecting with more than 30 international destinations directly. The airport has two terminals that are 3 kilometres apart, offering various facilities and services, including shops, duty-free stores, restaurants, cafés, bars, medical care, currency exchange, and ATMs.

The airport is easily accessible from downtown Mexico City, with taxi services, shuttle buses, rideshare options, and public transportation available. The closest metro station is "Terminal Aérea Station," and bus routes connect the airport to different parts of the city. The Metrobus Line 4 also directly links the airport with downtown.

Mexico City International Airport is known for its modern facilities and extensive network of airlines. It strives to provide a seamless travel experience for passengers with a wide range of amenities. However, some travellers have noted issues with gate availability and remote plane parking, which can lead to longer travel times and missed connections.

The airport also accommodates entities such as the Mexican Airspace Navigation Services and the Mexican Federal Civil Aviation Agency, and it houses an Air Force Base. It is owned by the Mexican Navy and operated by Grupo Aeroportuario de la Ciudad de México. With an average of 1,056 daily aircraft movements, it is one of the busiest two-runway airports globally.

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Benito Juárez International Airport is the main airport, with Felipe Ángeles International Airport as the secondary

Mexico City has two large airports: Benito Juárez International Airport, which is the main airport, and Felipe Ángeles International Airport, which is the secondary airport.

Benito Juárez International Airport, also known as Mexico City International Airport, is located in the eastern part of Mexico City, just minutes from many tourist districts. It is the busiest international airport in Mexico, with an average of 124,000 daily passengers and an annual passenger traffic of over 48 million in 2023. The airport offers various services, including duty-free shopping, international dining options, luggage storage facilities, VIP lounges, rental car agencies, and free Wi-Fi. However, it faces congestion issues, with limited runway space and peak-hour traffic.

Felipe Ángeles International Airport, situated about 35 kilometres north of Mexico City in Zumpango, State of Mexico, opened in 2022 as the secondary airport for the city. It was originally named Santa Lucía Air Force Base, which was established in 1952 to replace the Balbuena Military Air Field. The airport serves domestic and international flights and is an important hub for cargo operations, accommodating entities such as the Mexican Air Force and charter flight services. Felipe Ángeles International Airport is the second-largest airport by area in Mexico, covering 1,531 hectares.

The development of Felipe Ángeles International Airport was a response to the congestion issues at Benito Juárez International Airport, which had been a topic of discussion in Mexican politics since the early 2000s. The relocation of cargo aircraft to Felipe Ángeles International Airport was intended to improve safety and operational efficiency at Benito Juárez International Airport.

Both airports play significant roles in Mexico City's aviation system, with Benito Juárez International Airport serving as the primary hub for passenger traffic and Felipe Ángeles International Airport taking on a crucial role as a cargo airport and providing additional capacity for passenger flights.

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The airport accommodates an Air Force Base and Mexican Airspace Navigation Services

Mexico City International Airport accommodates an Air Force Base and Mexican Airspace Navigation Services. The airport, officially named Benito Juárez International Airport, is located in the neighbourhood of Peñón de los Baños within Venustiano Carranza, one of sixteen boroughs of Mexico City. It is approximately 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) east of Downtown Mexico City.

Air Force Base No. 19 (Spanish: Base Aérea Militar No. 19 Ciudad de México) (B.A.M. 19) is situated on the airport grounds, adjacent to Terminal 2. The base is home to the High Command Special Air Transport Unit (UETAAM), which manages a diverse fleet of aircraft, including the Boeing 737, IAI 201, JetStar, King Air, SA 330J, and UH-60 Black Hawk. B.A.M. 19 also includes an apron, several hangars, administrative buildings, and other facilities for accommodating Air Force personnel.

One of the hangars is known as the Presidential Hangar and is used for receiving state visits and presidential travels. The base also hosts the General Coordination of the Presidential Air Transport Unit.

The Mexican Airspace Navigation Services are responsible for managing and controlling airspace, ensuring safe and efficient flight operations within Mexico's airspace. They coordinate with various organisations, including the Mexican Federal Civil Aviation Agency, to maintain a seamless and secure aviation environment.

Frequently asked questions

Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX) offers a wide range of amenities, including duty-free shopping, diverse dining options, currency exchange services, and comfortable lounges. It also has banks, shops, airline headquarters, taxi, car and shuttle rentals, restaurants, relax areas, emergency and police points.

The airport has two terminals, with the closest metro station being Terminal Aérea Station. It also offers taxi services, shuttle buses, and rideshare options.

Terminal 1 is close to four hotels: Camino Real, Courtyard by Marriot, Fiesta Inn by Fiesta Americana, and Hilton. Terminal 2 is close to NH Hotel.

Mexico City Airport is one of the busiest two-runway airports in the world, serving 48,415,693 passengers in 2023 and 45,359,485 in 2024. It has been criticised for not having enough gates, causing planes to park far from the terminal and passengers to be transported via bus.

The airport was named after the 19th-century president Benito Juárez. The original site, Llanos de Balbuena, has been utilised for aeronautical activities since 1910, when Alberto Braniff became the first person to fly an airplane in Mexico and Latin America.

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