AIFA Reaches Profitability as Cargo and World Cup Traffic Surge

The Felipe Angeles International Airport (AIFA) has crossed its operational break-even point and reached financial self-sufficiency, operating without the need for federal subsidies while capitalizing on a cargo boom and a surge in international passenger traffic tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to airport management and official government data.

Speaking to business executives in a diplomatic reception room at the airport during a private dialogue on automotive logistics organized by multinational logistics firm UPS and the American Chamber of Commerce in Mexico (AmCham Mexico), AIFA Director General Isidoro Pastor outlined the operational trajectory and financial standing of the facility. The retired Army Brigadier General emphasized that more than four years after its inauguration, the flagship infrastructure project of the current administration has stabilized its balance sheet across passenger and cargo divisions.

According to Pastor, the financial turning point occurred in 1Q24, when the airport recorded its first net profit. Official federal reports show that during that quarter, AIFA recorded a profit of MX$78 million (US$4.58 million), generated from MX$490 million (US$28.77 million) in service revenue against operating expenses of MX$412 million (US$24.19 million).

Although federal budget allocations continue to be assigned to the facility through the Ministry of National Defense (SEDENA), which operates the airport, Pastor stated that internal revenues cover all expenditures, including tax disbursements. Under the Expenditure Budget of the Federation (PEF), AIFA's allocation is listed within Sedena's budget. In 2025, the federal government allocated MX$924.61 million (US$54.28 million) to the terminal for personal services and operational expenses. For 2026, that allocation was reduced by 19.5% to MX$744.69 million (US$43.72 million).

"We have been granted fiscal resources for payroll and facility property insurance purposes, yet that is not necessary. Even though they have granted us these fiscal resources in 2024, 2025, and 2026, when we calculate the accounts, we surpass the break-even point, cover those fiscal outlays, and still finish with a positive balance. Since that first quarter of 2024, we have maintained sound finances," Pastor said.

Passenger Growth and Route Network Challenges

According to the latest figures from the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC), AIFA currently ranks as the seventh-largest airport in Mexico by passenger volume year-to-date. The terminal hosts 40 domestic routes serviced by Aeroméxico, Viva, Volaris, and state-owned carrier Mexicana de Aviación, which utilizes AIFA as its central operational hub.

The airport's international footprint comprises seven routes operated by Mexican and foreign carriers, including Dominican airline Arajet. However, commercial expansion plans encountered regulatory obstacles late last year when the US Department of Transportation suspended 11 planned international routes that would have expanded AIFA's cross-border network from seven to 18 destinations. The affected Mexican carriers, Aeroméxico and Viva, had already initiated ticket sales in November prior to the regulatory halt.

"If they are successfully recovered this year, we will move from seven to 18 international routes, where Aeroméxico and Viva are still planning to resume ticket sales that had been initiated in November of last year," Pastor said.

Despite the US route delays, airport authorities project total passenger traffic to reach between 7.7 million and 8.0 million passengers this year, representing the highest annual volume since operations began. The milestone aligns with AIFA's long-term Master Development Plan, which targets an annual volume of 19.5 million passengers by 2032.

"To reach that target, we would need to transport between 53,000 and 54,000 passengers daily. If we take into consideration that on certain days we have handled more than 28,000 passengers at this airport, it means we are on target to reach the figure established in our master development plan," Pastor said.

Cargo Sector Drives Financial Returns

While passenger services face international regulatory constraints, air cargo has emerged as a primary revenue engine for AIFA. The shift follows a 2023 federal decree that prohibited dedicated cargo operations at Mexico City International Airport (AICM) and mandated their transfer to Santa Lucia. Although the decision prompted formal complaints from US aviation authorities regarding bilateral air transport agreements, cargo volumes at AIFA have grown steadily.

Year-to-date figures show AIFA handled 202,469 metric tons of air freight, outperforming major regional logistics hubs including AICM, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.

This cargo volume has driven tax collection via the Tax Administration Service (SAT) customhouse located at the terminal. Since 2023, the AIFA Customs facility has generated more than MX$280 billion (US$$16.44 billion) in tax revenues. Pastor contrasted this tax yield with the original construction cost of the airport infrastructure, which totaled MX$75 billion (US$$4.40 billion), describing the revenue stream as proof of the project's financial return.

"If we consider that this airport cost MX$75 billion, there lie the results of the return on investment," Pastor added.

World Cup Tourism and International Market Diversification

The operational capacity of the airport was tested in June 2026, the inaugural month of the FIFA World Cup hosted jointly by Mexico, Canada, and the United States. Data from the Migration Policy Unit of the Ministry of the Interior (SEGOB), released by the Ministry of Tourism (SECTUR), indicates that foreign air tourist arrivals at AIFA increased by 53% in June compared to the same month in 2025.

The tourist growth rate at AIFA outpaced other host city terminals across Mexico. In June, international air arrivals increased by 42.2% at Monterrey International Airport, 10.6% at AICM, and 6.2% at Guadalajara International Airport.

Minister of Tourism Josefina Rodríguez attributed the growth across host city airports directly to World Cup travel demand. "The increase in tourist arrivals at host airports reflects the interest in exploring our country and represents an opportunity for more visitors to tour our cities and for the benefits of tourism to reach more communities," Rodríguez said.

Nationwide, 1,602,621 foreign air tourists entered Mexico in June. The United States remained the largest source market with 1,174,871 air visitors, despite a 12.1% year-over-year decline compared to June 2025. Canada ranked second with 84,954 visitors, followed by Colombia with 72,465.

Despite the contraction in US visitor volume, non-US source markets registered double- and triple-digit growth during the month. Tourist arrivals from Japan grew by 131.7%, while arrivals from Colombia increased by 74.4%. Other expanding markets included South Korea (+46.7%), Brazil (+29.4%), Guatemala (+28.5%), and Germany (+6.4%).

In 1H26, Mexico received 10,764,000 foreign air tourists. Canada was the second-largest origin market with 1,831,000 visitors, representing a 7.6% increase over the same period in 2025. Colombian visitor volume reached 242,064, up 31.5% year-over-year. Other notable H1 growth markets included Brazil (+19.3%), Japan (+17.1%), and Switzerland (+6.0%).

SECTUR noted that market diversification remains a core component of Mexico's international promotional strategy as the country navigates broader headwinds in the global aviation sector and seeks to capture long-term commercial spillover from the World Cup.