AICM Expansion Doubtful to Fix Airspace, Runway Limits

Recent discussions about constructing a third terminal at Mexico City International Airport (AICM) have been met with skepticism by aviation experts. According to industry analysts, the project is unlikely to address the airport’s most pressing operational challenges, which are primarily tied to limited airspace and runway capacity.

“The number of operations is constrained by available airspace, flight corridors, surrounding hills, and terrain,” said Jesús Navarro, former president, Mexican College of Aeronautical Engineers. “So what is the point of having more parking on the ground if there is no way to land the planes?”

Navarro emphasized that AICM currently operates with only two runways and has no available land for expansion without expropriating nearby urban neighborhoods. He argued that a third terminal would not resolve the airport’s core limitations. “There is no way to build another terminal. The solution was to build a new airport elsewhere. AICM has lost appeal, and other terminals have taken advantage of its constraints,” he said.

Carlos Torres, an aviation sector analyst, supported this view, noting that AICM’s competitiveness—particularly for domestic routes—has declined. “For domestic routes, low-cost airlines had to increase their offerings at Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) after time slots at AICM became limited,” Torres said. He added that the idea of Terminal 3 dates back to the administration of Andrés Manuel López Obrador and remains under consideration, with proposals suggesting it could be built in the former presidential hangar. However, no firm plans have been announced.

Despite ongoing references to the project, AICM's current leadership has confirmed it is not moving forward. In 2023, two studies commissioned by the Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (SICT) confirmed airport saturation, which led to a reduction in allowed operations per hour. Rear Admiral José Ramón Rivera Parga, AICM’s director general, stated that there are no short-term plans to build Terminal 3, though the airport will undergo functional and aesthetic upgrades.

Rivera Parga acknowledged the need for additional infrastructure to meet rising demand. AICM currently hosts 26 airlines—five domestic and 21 international. However, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has stated that the airport’s main problem is not operational capacity but aging infrastructure. In response, the federal government has initiated a comprehensive renovation tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which Mexico will co-host.

In April, the Navy-led AICM administration awarded contracts for the remodeling of Terminals 1 and 2. The selected companies will carry out structural upgrades, including work on façades, ceilings, lighting, and key systems. Renovations began in April 2025 and will pause during the World Cup, resuming in August. The total value of these contracts is MX$2.86 billion—roughly one-third of the MX$8.55 billion budgeted for the airport’s broader renovation. The remainder will fund maintenance, new equipment, and technology improvements.

In early August, seasonal rains again exposed AICM’s drainage vulnerabilities. Operations were suspended due to flooding on runways and in operational zones, delaying flights and disrupting passenger flow. Experts attributed the issue to limited drainage capacity and ground subsidence caused by overuse of local aquifers. These shifts create low points where water accumulates.

To address this, AICM has begun deploying additional pumping systems and is evaluating long-term drainage solutions. One proposal involves constructing a semi-underground water channel to redirect excess rainwater to reservoirs or drainage tunnels east of the Valley of Mexico. Authorities aim to complete short-term improvements before the next rainy season in 2026.