Mexico Raises AICM Slots to 46 Ahead of 2026 World Cup

The Mexican government has authorized a strategic increase in operational capacity at Mexico City International Airport (AICM), raising the limit from 44 to 46 takeoff and landing per hour. The directive, approved under the administration of Claudia Sheinbaum, partially reverses previous presidential decrees that had restricted operations at the country’s primary aviation hub. 

The Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) confirmed that the adjustment follows an aeronautical navigation study conducted by Services to Navigation in the Mexican Air Space (SENEAM). According to official documentation, the measure is intended to accommodate increased demand during the 2026 summer and winter seasons, in the lead-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The capacity expansion is contingent on the completion of key infrastructure upgrades. AICM stated that the increase can only take effect "once three new rapid-exit taxiways are operational on Runway 05 Right."

According to the airport administration, managed by the Mexican Navy, the infrastructure rollout is phased: the first taxiway has already been completed, the second is expected to be finished in the second half of May, and the third is scheduled for delivery by the end of 2026. Although the measure is currently defined as temporary for the 2026 cycles, authorities indicated it could be extended to subsequent seasons.

The decision marks a shift from a May 2025 decree that capped operations at 44 slots per hour to mitigate congestion. Despite the new authorization, AFAC emphasized that structural saturation remains a critical constraint. Official reports indicate that Terminal 1 is saturated from 05:00 to 22:59, while Terminal 2 faces similar pressure during peak windows, including 06:00 to 10:59 and 13:00 to 19:59.

The regulator’s resolution instructs the concessionaire to “apply, adopt, and implement the necessary measures to ensure optimal airport operations and the adequate provision of public service.”

The increase in slot availability comes as international carriers seek to expand their presence in Mexico. Lufthansa has indicated plans to add two weekly flights from its Munich hub, which would contribute approximately 600 additional seats per week on the Germany–Mexico City route. However, such expansion remains dependent on the effective availability of the new slots.

“Based on the SENEAM study dated March 25, 2026, once the new taxiways are incorporated into the Aeronautical Information Publication and under optimal operating conditions, runway capacity can be increased to 46 operations per hour,” AFAC stated.

The agency added that the decision is supported by actions undertaken by AICM to “strengthen service levels in both terminals,” which were deemed “adequate and sufficient” to justify the incremental increase in traffic.

The revised slot coordination is expected to be formalized following its publication in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF). Although AICM briefly issued a statement regarding the update, it was later withdrawn at the instruction of the airport’s general directorate.