Coahuila Invests MX$600 Million to Boost Regional Air Travel

Coahuila’s southeastern region will receive a MX$600 million (US$32.7 million) investment to modernize airport infrastructure and expand air connectivity across Saltillo, Ramos Arizpe and the metropolitan area with Monterrey. Governor Manolo Jiménez Salinas announced the initiative as part of a two-year effort to strengthen the Plan de Guadalupe Airport and develop long-term commercial routes in partnership with the private sector and airlines including Viva.

Jiménez Salinas said the project aims to ensure sustainable airport growth and reduce reliance on road travel to Monterrey. “This is a medium- and long-term project, where investments will be made and professional management will be carried out to bring in more flights,” he said. He noted that road travel times to Monterrey now exceed two and a half hours in some cases, limiting the region’s ability to sustain reliable air service.

The governor reported that the first new flight launched under the initiative has reached an 85% occupancy rate. He also confirmed the addition of a Saltillo–Cancun route, describing Cancun as “a strategic connection to many countries” due to its high volume of international flights.

The expansion plan seeks to reach one million passengers per year through new routes to Guadalajara, Tijuana, Puerto Vallarta and select US destinations. As part of the management model, authorities will establish a Citizen Airport Council to coordinate medium- and long-term planning with representatives from the hotel, restaurant and business sectors.

According to Jiménez Salinas, southeastern Coahuila and western Nuevo Leon represent a combined potential market of more than 1.5 million passengers, positioning the Saltillo–Monterrey corridor as “the strongest economic area in the country,” driven in large part by the automotive industry.

The investment will integrate with regional development projects—including Expo Coahuila and Arena Saltillo—designed to attract conventions, concerts and international events. The governor noted that the area expects to receive part of the visitor influx during the 2026 World Cup due to its proximity to Monterrey. “We could have one million or one and a half million tourists nearby who will likely use this airport,” he said.

He added that complementary infrastructure projects are underway, including the Los Pastores Boulevard, the connection to Flores Tapia, the modernization of the Saltillo–Derramadero route and several metropolitan works funded through the state payroll tax.