Mexico’s AIFA Airport Earns SMS Safety Certification

The Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) has received the Operational Safety Management System (SMS) certification, 17 days ahead of its fourth anniversary. The recognition follows full compliance with the four phases established under the SMS framework, according to AIFA’s director general, Gen. Isidoro Pastor Román.

During a ceremony held at the auditorium of the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) within AIFA’s facilities, Gen. Pastor Román emphasized that operational safety entails reducing and controlling risks associated with aviation activities to acceptable levels. “This is an important first step, and now the challenge is to maintain this system and continuously improve it across all operational activities,” he said.

The certification process encompassed four distinct phases. The first phase focused on planning and implementing the system, the second addressed reactive processes, the third incorporated proactive measures, and the fourth—achieved in December 2025—established operational safety assurance. Gen. Pastor Román noted that AIFA operates under the Mexican Official Standard NOM-064-SCT3-2023, which sets requirements for operational safety management systems for public air transport concessionaires, assignees and licensees.

“This achievement represents a strategic advance with national and international implications for the aviation sector,” Pastor Román added. The certification aligns AIFA with international standards, strengthens regulatory harmonization and enhances the competitiveness of Mexican aviation in global markets.

Alignment with International Safety Standards

General Arnoldo Ríos Salas, Executive Director of Air Safety, AFAC, highlighted the airport’s alignment with global aviation standards. Annex 19 of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) provides guidelines that states can incorporate into their regulatory frameworks to strengthen aviation safety. 

Implementing an SMS also requires transforming operational decision-making processes. “Operating in an environment like AIFA involves constant interaction among multiple service providers, including air operators, ground services, maintenance teams, air traffic management, airport security and other strategic stakeholders. The operational safety performance of each organization directly affects the safety of the entire system,” Ríos Salas explained.

Recognition of AIFA’s SMS Management team included a formal acknowledgment of its leadership and operational oversight. Cinthia Ivette Dávila Cantero, Operational Safety Management System Manager, highlighted the team’s daily commitment to safety, responsibility, and operational rigor. “The wellbeing of our clients, passengers, and employees is our priority,” she said, emphasizing the airport’s systematic risk management and monitoring practices.

Passenger Growth and Connectivity Challenges

Mexico City’s rail connection to AIFA is scheduled to begin operations before Easter, marking the first operational milestone of the federal government’s Northern Passenger Train program. President Claudia Sheinbaum noted that 24.89 million square meters of right-of-way were cleared with residents’ cooperation, facilitating the project’s advancement. “We are making significant progress. The Mexico City–AIFA train will begin operations before Easter, while the Mexico City–Queretaro and AIFA–Pachuca lines remain on track for completion in 2027,” she said.

Despite nearly four years of operations, AIFA has yet to become a primary driver of air traffic in the Valley of Mexico. Passenger traffic reached 7,079,040 travelers in 2025, an 11.5% increase compared with the previous year, but significantly lower than the 141.3% surge recorded in 2024. Meanwhile, Benito Juárez International Airport (AICM) lost 753,685 passengers year over year, partially offset by gains at AIFA. Analysts note that passenger increases at AIFA have not fully compensated for the decline in traffic at the capital’s main airport.

Industry experts emphasize that improved accessibility and connectivity will be critical for consolidating AIFA’s role in passenger transport. Eliseo Llamazares, partner and aviation and tourism leader, KPMG México, said that “large urban areas such as the Mexico City metropolitan region benefit from multiple airport terminals,” suggesting that AIFA could expand low-cost and international routes. Airlines such as Lufthansa have expressed interest in operating from AIFA, but require direct and efficient transport links to ensure route viability. José Suárez, spokesperson, Mexican Aviators Union (ASPA), noted that improved connectivity will be essential to attract additional passengers.