Lois Larson
Mexico has a vast aviation network, with 1,527 registered airfields and 80 officially recognised airports, ranking 4th globally. The country's airport system is managed by both public and private operators, with the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) overseeing regulations and safety. Mexico City International Airport (MEX), officially named Benito Juárez International Airport, is the country's busiest airport for passengers and cargo. It is responsible for half of all the cargo that goes in and out of the country and 63.8% of all international tons moved. Guadalajara, the second hub for freighter operations, is also prepared to handle perishables requiring temperature control. Other important airports for cargo include Monterrey, Querétaro, and Toluca International Airport.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of registered airfields | 1,527 |
| Number of officially recognized airports | 80 |
| Busiest airport | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) |
| Busiest airport in Latin America by international passenger traffic | Cancún International Airport (CUN) |
| Cargo operations leader | Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU) |
| Cargo in Metric Tons in 2018 | 581,675 |
| YoY Increase in 2018 | 8.6% |
| Number of airlines operating at Aeropuerto Internacional de Cancún | 44 |
| Number of destinations served by Volaris | 69 |
| Total ton-kilometers of cargo moved by air in 2021 | 962.57 million |
| Cargo in metric tons by Benito Juárez International Airport in 2021 | 409,205 |
| Top airlines in Mexico | Aeroméxico, Volaris, and Interjet |
| Number of hubs for freighter operations | 5 |
| Cargo in tons distributed by the 5 hubs until November 2021 | 869,284.3 |
| Percentage of the overall cargo handled at Mexican airports by the 5 hubs | 84.3% |
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What You'll Learn
Mexico City International Airport (MEX)
Mexico City International Airport, also known as Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX), is one of the busiest airports in Mexico for passengers and cargo. In 2018, it handled 581,675 metric tons of cargo, an 8.6% increase from the previous year. The airport serves an area with a GDP of $411 billion and a population of 20 million.
The airport has two parallel runways and handles an average of 1,056 daily aircraft movements, ranking as one of the busiest two-runway airports globally. It served 48,415,693 passengers in 2023 and 45,359,485 in 2024, with an average of 124,000 daily passengers. The airport offers various services, including duty-free shopping, international dining, luggage storage, VIP lounges, car rentals, and free Wi-Fi.
The original site, Llanos de Balbuena, has been used for aeronautical activities since 1910. Alberto Braniff made the first flight in Mexico and Latin America at this site in 1911. The airport's name was changed from "Aeropuerto Central" to "Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México" in 1963. The airport underwent expansions in 1980 and 1990 to separate domestic and international facilities and increase capacity.
In 2014, the Mexican authorities recognised the airspace around the airport as saturated, limiting its capacity. This led to the proposal of the Texcoco Airport project, which aimed to replace the ageing airport. However, the project faced opposition and did not proceed. Mexico City International Airport remains a crucial hub for air travel and cargo in Mexico, contributing significantly to the country's economic growth and international connections.
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Guadalajara Airport (GDL)
Guadalajara Airport, also known as Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla Guadalajara International Airport (GDL), is located 16 kilometres from the city of Guadalajara. It is the third busiest airport in Mexico, serving more than 17.7 million passengers in 2023. The airport is named after Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a key figure in the Mexican War of Independence.
The airport was inaugurated on March 1, 1951, with two asphalt runways, an apron, and a small passenger terminal. Since then, it has undergone significant expansions and renovations. In 1966, operations were temporarily suspended due to safety concerns, and urgent repairs were carried out. By 1968, the runway was reconstructed and extended to 4,000 metres, coinciding with the reconstruction of the passenger building. The airport was reinaugurated as the new Miguel Hidalgo International Airport.
Guadalajara Airport has two runways and two terminals, offering flights to various destinations in Mexico, Central America, Europe, and the United States. It serves as the largest hub for Volaris and a hub for Viva and Aeroméxico. It also supports charter flights, flight training programs, and general aviation activities. The airport is operated by Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP) and is part of their consortium headquartered in Guadalajara.
In 2020, GAP announced a 14 billion-peso investment in Guadalajara Airport. This includes the construction of a new runway, improved terminal access, an expanded parking lot, and the development of a hotel, an office complex, and a solar power plant. The expansion project is expected to be completed by 2024.
Guadalajara Airport provides a range of transportation options, including shared shuttle vans, private car transfers, and private SUV transfers for varying group sizes. Car rentals are also available, starting at $10 USD per day for weekly rentals with unlimited mileage.
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Monterrey Airport (MTY)
Monterrey International Airport, also known as General Mariano Escobedo International Airport, is located in Apodaca, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. It is one of the busiest airports in Mexico, serving the Greater Monterrey area. The airport is named after General Mariano Escobedo, a prominent military figure born in Nuevo Leon.
Monterrey Airport has experienced rapid growth in recent years, with a significant increase in passenger traffic. In 2024, it ranked as the fourth busiest airport in Mexico by passengers, cargo, and aircraft movements. To accommodate this growth, the airport initiated a comprehensive renovation and expansion project for Terminal A in 2019. The project includes enlarging the departures concourse and check-in areas, constructing additional boarding gates, and expanding public areas.
The airport operates both domestic and international flights to various destinations, including Mexico, the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, and Europe. It serves as a hub for airlines such as Viva, Magnicharters, and Aerus, and is a focus city for Volaris, Aeromexico Connect, and TAR Aerolíneas. Monterrey Airport also facilitates cargo and charter flights, providing services for courier companies like FedEx, DHL, UPS, and Estafeta.
Monterrey International Airport offers a range of amenities and services for passengers, including ATMs, car rentals, shopping, taxis, VIP lounges, and Wi-Fi. It provides both public and private airport transportation options, ensuring convenient travel to and from the airport. The airport is well-connected, with a free shuttle service operating between Terminals A, B, and C. Additionally, the Airport Boulevard features hotels, restaurants, and other establishments for travellers' convenience.
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Benito Juárez International Airport
The airport is a hub for all Mexican flag carriers, including Aeroméxico, the country's largest and oldest airline, which offers flights to North, Central, and South America, as well as Europe and Asia. Other airlines operating out of Benito Juárez International Airport include low-cost carriers Viva Aerobus and Volaris, as well as international carriers such as Air France, Lufthansa, Emirates, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines.
The airport is directly connected to Terminal 1 and the airport bus station, with complimentary shuttle services to Terminal 2. It is also located within a short distance of various accommodation options, including hotels, hostels, and Airbnb accommodations.
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Toluca International Airport (TLC)
Mexico has 60 commercial airports, operated by both private owners and the Mexican government. The Mexican cargo airline industry has fully recovered from the Covid-19 pandemic, with freighter airlines carrying 17.7% more tons in November 2021 than in the same month in 2019.
The airport's development has been significantly influenced by efforts to address congestion at Mexico City International Airport, which has been an issue since the 1980s. In 1994, the federal government prohibited general aviation operations at Mexico City International Airport, redirecting them to secondary airports like Toluca. As a result, Toluca Airport now manages most general aviation traffic in the Mexico City airspace.
Toluca International Airport has been an important hub for low-cost carriers Volaris and Interjet, which established Toluca as their primary hub in the 2000s. The airport's passenger traffic increased from 145,000 in 2002 to 4,300,000 in 2008, leading to renovations and expansions. However, following Interjet's shift in operations to Mexico City in 2011, passenger traffic at Toluca declined, falling to 134,305 by 2021. As of 2024, Toluca Airport has consolidated its operations into two terminals, with all activities centralised at the Domestic Terminal. The airport currently serves domestic flights, with FedEx Express operating weekly cargo flights to Memphis.
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Frequently asked questions
The top cargo airports in Mexico are Mexico City International Airport (MEX), Cancun (CUN), Guadalajara (GDL), Tijuana (TIJ), and Monterrey (MTY).
Mexico City International Airport (MEX) is the busiest airport in Mexico for passengers and cargo.
Some of the major airports in Mexico are Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport, Manuel Crescencio Rejón International Airport, Mazatlán International Airport, and Veracruz International Airport.
As of 2025, there are 80 officially recognized airports in Mexico, with 64 airports offering scheduled commercial flights.
