Government Allocates Resources to Refurbish AICM

The federal government published an agreement with the Ministry of Infrastructure Communications and Transportation (SICT) in which it transfers over US$5.1 million to the government of Mexico City for the refurbishment of Mexico City International Airport (AICM) Terminal 2.

According to the agreement published in the Federation Official Gazette (DOF), the government of Mexico City will be in charge of spending the resources for the refurbishment of Terminal 2’s facilities. 

The agreement furthermore states that the resources cannot be used for another purpose and will always be considered federal resources. However, Mexico City must still register them in its accounting. Additionally, the Mexico City government is obligated to report the monthly progress of the project to federal authorities for over a year, which is the estimated time needed to conclude refurbishment works. The monthly report must include information about hired companies, supervisions, contract numbers, costs, execution periods, the number of workers, technicians and equipment mobilized, as well as financial and physical progress. Mexico City will be able to use up to 5 percent of the assigned resources for administrative expenses. 

According to the agreement, the federal government can suspend or cancel the resource assignment if it finds out that the resources are being used inadequately. The AICM’s management, the Ministries of Finance and Civil Service, as well as the Federal Superior Auditor (ASF) will oversee the process.

After a series of incidents on AICM’s runways revealed the airport’s deterioration, the federal government announced that it would invest over US$30.18 million to carry out maintenance works. Since most of the federal and military efforts were focused on major infrastructure projects like the Mayan Train and Dos Bocas refinery, the government of Mexico City would be in charge of AICM’s maintenance works. “We will reinforce Terminal 2. The work will be overseen by the Mexico City government. The entire foundation will be reinforced because the terminal has structural problems,” President López Obrador said in July 2022.

On Oct. 4, 2022, Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum announced that the works at the terminal were about to start with an investment of US$20.8 million and would take 10 months. Sheinbaum said that the government will repair the terminal’s foundations to prevent sinking and damage from earthquakes. She also ruled out the possibility of closing the terminal since the works are carried out underground.