GAP Presents Passenger Traffic Results, Investment Plans

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP), which operates 12 airports in Mexico, announced an increase in passenger traffic of 33.1% in January 2023 compared to the same month in 2022. GAP is also investing MX$10 billion (US$528 million) in its airports during 2023. 

In January 2023, Puerto Vallarta International Airport reported 46.5% growth in total passenger traffic, followed by Los Cabos with 39.2%, Guadalajara 31.7% and Tijuana with 20.1%. GAP also operates two airports in Jamaica. Its airport in Montego Bay registered a growth of 67.6%, while the one in Kingston grew by 59.6%, explained the group in its latest traffic report. 

GAP reported that the Guadalajara airport outperformed its other 11 terminals in Mexico in national passenger traffic, with a total of 991,000 passengers in January 2023, which represents a growth of 34.4% year over year. Tijuana ranked second in national passenger traffic, reaching 713,000, followed by: Los Cabos with 229,000, Puerto Vallarta with 226,000 and Guanajuato with 180,000. Out of all GAP airports, Guanajuato registered the largest increase in passengers, growing 40.4% from January 2022 to January 2023. 

GAP’s total national passengers grew from 2.23 million in January 2022 to 2.86 million in January 2023, which represents an increase of 28.4%. On the other hand, total international passenger traffic increased by 38.8%, as traffic grew from 1.82 million passengers in January 2022 to 2.5 million in January 2023. Total passengers grew 33.1% from 4 million to 5.4 million in the same period. 

GAP highlighted that its seats and load factors offered in January 2023 increased by 15.3%, compared to January 2022. The load factor grew from 68.7% in January 2022 to 79.2% in January 2023. The group also opened new routes from Guadalajara to Monterrey that will be operated by Aeroméxico, from Puerto Vallarta to Indianapolis with Sun Country and from Puerto Vallarta to Abbotsford with Flair Airlines.

GAP announced a MX$10.2 billion (US$510 million) investment for 2023 in the 12 airports it operates. The group forecasts an increase of 6-8% in passenger traffic and a growth of 12-14% in total revenues in 2023. Projections were calculated from passenger traffic data on its existing routes, the increase in occupancy factors, frequency and seating capacity. 

“The increase in the cost reflects the operational needs to meet the demand for airport services, the expansion of infrastructure and improvements to the areas of operation, maintenance, security and cleaning,” explained GAP. CAPEX is expected to rise to MX$10.2 billion (US$510 million) to account for the rising costs of investments in airports, commercial spaces, parking lots, hotels, offices and an the expansion of Guadalajara airport, as reported by MBN.