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Mexico City International Airport, officially known as Benito Juárez International Airport, is the primary international airport serving Greater Mexico City. The airport first opened in 1929 and took its current form in 1952. It is located in the neighbourhood of Peñón de los Baños within Venustiano Carranza, situated 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) east of Downtown Mexico City. The airport is one of the busiest two-runway airports in the world, serving an average of 124,000 daily passengers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Mexico City International Airport (Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México, AICM) |
| Official Name | Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez (Benito Juárez International Airport) |
| IATA Code | MEX |
| ICAO Code | MMMX |
| Location | Peñón de los Baños, Venustiano Carranza, 5 km (3.1 miles) east of Downtown Mexico City |
| Elevation | 2,230 metres (7,320 ft) above sea level |
| Field Size | 747 hectares (1,850 acres) |
| Number of Runways | 2 |
| Length of Runway 05L/23R | 3,900 metres (12,800 ft) |
| Length of Runway 05R/23L | 3,950 metres (12,960 ft) |
| Number of Terminals | 2 |
| Year of Opening | 1929 |
| Year of Taking Current Form | 1952 |
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What You'll Learn
- The original site, Llanos de Balbuena, was used for aeronautical activities since 1910
- The airport opened in 1929 and took its current form in 1952
- It is one of the busiest two-runway airports in the world
- Plans to build a new airport date back to 1967
- The airport's location limits infrastructure expansion
The original site, Llanos de Balbuena, was used for aeronautical activities since 1910
The original site of the Mexico City International Airport, known as Llanos de Balbuena, has been associated with aeronautical activities since 1910. Alberto Braniff became the first person to fly an airplane in Mexico and Latin America, achieving this feat at Llanos de Balbuena in a Voisin biplane. This historic event marked the beginning of aeronautical activities at the site, which later became an important aviation hub.
In the following years, the site witnessed significant milestones in aviation. On November 30, 1911, President Francisco I. Madero became the world's first head of state to fly in an airplane, piloted by Geo M. Dyott of Moisant International. This event further solidified the site's connection to aviation and its role in shaping Mexico's aeronautical history.
The site continued to be a focal point for aviation developments, and in 1915, it officially opened as the Balbuena Military Airport. This airport was equipped with five runways and served military aviation needs. It is important to note that during this early era of aviation, the infrastructure and facilities were quite different from what we see today.
Over time, the demands and capabilities of aviation grew, and the site underwent transformations to accommodate these changes. The Balbuena Military Airport was reconfigured and expanded to meet the increasing needs of military and, eventually, commercial aviation. This evolution laid the groundwork for what would become Mexico City International Airport, a bustling hub for domestic and international travel.
Today, Mexico City International Airport, officially named Benito Juárez International Airport, is the primary international airport serving Greater Mexico City. It is located in the Peñón de los Baños neighbourhood within Venustiano Carranza, situated 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) east of Downtown Mexico City. The airport boasts two parallel runways and two passenger terminals, serving over 100 destinations across the globe.
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The airport opened in 1929 and took its current form in 1952
Mexico City International Airport, officially known as Benito Juárez International Airport, first opened its doors in 1929. However, it wasn't until 1952 that the airport took on its current form, with the completion of key infrastructure.
The original site of the airport, known as Llanos de Balbuena, holds a significant place in Mexico's aeronautical history. As early as 1910, this site witnessed Alberto Braniff become the first person to fly an airplane in Mexico and Latin America. In 1911, President Francisco I. Madero made history by becoming the world's first head of state to fly in an airplane. The site was further developed in 1915, when it opened as the Balbuena Military Airport, equipped with five runways.
Over the years, the airport has undergone several transformations and expansions. In 1952, the completion of runway 05R/23L, the current Terminal 1, the air traffic control tower, and the airport administration building marked a significant milestone in the airport's evolution. This development gave the airport its current structure.
Today, Mexico City International Airport is the busiest airport in Mexico and one of the busiest two-runway airports in the world. It handles a vast number of daily aircraft movements and serves millions of passengers annually. The airport is a crucial hub for several airlines, including Aeroméxico, Volaris, Viva, and Magnicharters.
The airport's location in a densely populated area has presented challenges for expansion. Despite these constraints, the airport has continued to thrive and adapt to meet the growing aviation demands of Mexico City.
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It is one of the busiest two-runway airports in the world
Mexico City International Airport, officially known as the Benito Juárez International Airport, is one of the busiest two-runway airports in the world. It is the primary international airport serving Greater Mexico City and is the busiest airport in Mexico, ranking 49th busiest in the world, third busiest in Latin America, and 15th busiest in North America as of 2025. The airport served 48,415,693 passengers in 2023 and 45,359,485 in 2024, with an average of 124,000 daily passengers and 1,056 daily aircraft movements.
The airport's location in a densely populated area has limited its infrastructure expansion due to urban constraints. The proximity of the two parallel runways, which are less than 300 metres apart, hinders simultaneous operations and contributes to overflying problems and noise pollution over Mexico City during landings with a northeast wind. The airport's elevation of 2,230 metres above sea level also impacts aircraft performance due to thinner air.
Over the years, there have been various discussions and proposals to address the capacity constraints at Mexico City International Airport. In the 1980s, plans were considered for a new airport or the expansion of existing airports, including Benito Juárez. However, these plans were dropped due to stabilised passenger numbers and the challenges of urban encroachment.
In 2014, the Mexico City Texcoco Airport project was announced as a new international airport, but it was cancelled in 2018 due to its proximity to housing, rising costs, and geographical issues. Instead, the focus shifted to expanding the existing Benito Juárez Airport and constructing a new airport at the Santa Lucía Airbase, now known as the Felipe Ángeles International Airport.
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Plans to build a new airport date back to 1967
Plans to build a new airport in Mexico City date back to the 1960s. Even in the early 1960s, it was recognised that the airport's expansion possibilities were limited due to urban encroachment. In 1962, discussions started about building a brand-new Jet-Age airport for Mexico City. At that time, the airport still had room to grow, but the city was rapidly expanding around it.
In 1967, a site in the municipality of Zumpango was identified as a potential location for a new airport. The area already hosted an airport: the Santa Lucía Air Force Base, which opened in 1952. The site was 30 miles (45-49 kilometres) north-northeast of downtown Mexico City.
In the 1970s, the two shortest runways at the existing airport were closed to facilitate the construction of a social housing complex, leaving the airport with its current configuration of two parallel runways. In 1980, the terminal doubled in capacity with a single large terminal layout, and in 1990, domestic and international facilities were separated to increase efficiency.
During the 1980s, several studies were conducted into large-scale, long-term solutions for Mexico City's aviation capacity. Three options remained: a brand new airport on the Texcoco lakebed, an expansion of the newly built Toluca Airport, or a radical expansion of Benito Juárez. The Texcoco and Toluca options were rejected as they were deemed too far from the city, so plans for a radical expansion of Benito Juárez continued. However, in the 1990s, traffic growth returned to Benito Juárez, and in 1994, all general aviation flights were moved to Toluca Airport. From 1996 onwards, new studies were conducted into long-term solutions for Mexico City's aviation needs.
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The airport's location limits infrastructure expansion
Mexico City International Airport, officially known as Benito Juárez International Airport, is the primary international airport serving Greater Mexico City. It is located in the neighbourhood of Peñón de los Baños within Venustiano Carranza, situated 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) east of Downtown Mexico City. The airport is surrounded by built-up areas, which have contributed to its limited infrastructure expansion.
The airport's location in a densely populated area has presented significant challenges in terms of expansion. The close proximity of the two parallel runways, which are less than 300 metres apart, restricts fully simultaneous operations and contributes to overflying problems and noise pollution over Mexico City during landings with a northeast wind. The airport's elevation of 2,230 metres above sea level also poses challenges, as aircraft departing or arriving suffer from degraded performance due to the thinner air at such a high elevation.
In the past, there have been several attempts to address the limitations imposed by the airport's location. As early as the 1960s, it was recognised that the airport's expansion possibilities were limited due to urban encroachment. Discussions began about building a new Jet-Age airport outside the city limits. In 1967, a potential location was identified in the municipality of Zumpango, 30 miles (45-49 kilometres) north-northeast of downtown Mexico City. However, these plans did not come to fruition.
In the 1980s, studies were conducted to explore long-term solutions for Mexico City's aviation capacity needs. One proposal was to construct a third parallel runway and a remote boarding concourse northeast of the current airport. However, this idea was ultimately dropped due to levelling off passenger numbers. In the 1990s, further studies were undertaken, and all general aviation flights were moved to Toluca Airport to provide relief.
In 2014, the Mexican government announced plans for a new airport, Mexico City Texcoco Airport, which was intended to replace Benito Juárez International Airport. However, this project faced opposition due to its proximity to housing, rising costs, and geographical issues. In 2018, a referendum led by President-elect Andrés Manuel López Obrador resulted in the cancellation of the Texcoco Airport project. Instead, it was decided to build a new airport at the existing Santa Lucía Airbase in Zumpango, marking a return to the earlier proposal for a Jet-Age airport in that location.
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Frequently asked questions
Mexico City International Airport, officially known as Benito Juárez International Airport, opened for operations in 1929.
Mexico City International Airport currently has two runways. However, there have been plans to construct a third parallel runway.
Mexico City International Airport is the busiest airport in Mexico, ranking 49th busiest in the world as of 2025.
In addition to Mexico City International Airport, there is also Toluca International Airport and Felipe Ángeles International Airport.
