The La Paz International Airport and Los Cabos (San José del Cabo) will receive a total investment of 8 billion pesos for the modernization and expansion of the airport terminals in South California.
As part of the 2025-2029 Master Development Plan, the Pacific Airport Group (GAP) allocated 1.099 billion pesos for the La Paz Airport and 6.901 billion pesos for the Los Cabos Airport.
Blanca Sarahí Castro Araiza, director of the La Paz International Airport, confirmed that the GAP group seeks to respond to sustained passenger growth by modernizing the facilities, including expanding the current terminal building by more than 1,400 square meters, which represents 14% of its total surface area.
The Manuel Márquez de León airport will expand its facilities by more than 1,400 square meters to improve the traveler experience.
Castro Araiza mentioned that the project includes expanding the Passenger Inspection Point by 66% and the baggage claim area by 63%.
“Over the last five years, La Paz Airport has seen a 20% growth in passenger traffic. Additionally, in 2024, we will complete the new route between La Paz and Los Angeles, resuming international operations.”
He noted that the terminal served 1,206,000 passengers in 2024, representing an 8% increase compared to 2023. He asserted that this was the largest growth recorded in recent years following the COVID-19 health emergency.
He affirmed that this trend will continue in 2025, with a 9% increase in the first four months of the year, reaching 404,000 passengers between January and April.
The airport official indicated that the so-called Master Development Plan also includes a major rehabilitation of the runway, the creation of runway strips, and various works that will help comply with international regulations.
“In order to continue our efforts to attract more and better routes, we are preparing these adaptations and expansions to the terminal, which will guarantee the safety, efficiency, and continuity of air operations, where the airport is recording its highest ever passenger throughput.”
Castro Araiza mentioned that the terminal’s annual growth ranges between 6% and 8%, which represents an increase of between 100,000 and 200,000 passengers each year. The expansion works will allow the airport to maintain this growth rate and improve the quality of the services it offers.
INVESTMENT BACKGROUND
During the previous five-year period, from 2020 to 2024, the company invested 377 million pesos to implement improvements such as the delivery of a 250-square-meter military base to the Ministry of Defense and the National Guard, with capacity for 42 personnel, sports areas, and office space.
The general aviation building was also comprehensively remodeled, with the installation of ceilings, floors, and renovation of restrooms. On the airfield, asphalt sealant was applied, patching was done, and concrete slabs were replaced on the aprons.
Finally, perimeter security was increased, reinforced with the replacement of 1,215 linear meters of fencing and 280 linear meters of double-height fencing. Regarding technology, remote reading systems were implemented to monitor consumption, the surveillance system was upgraded, and night vision and thermal cameras were installed.
MODERNIZATION IN LOS CABOS
Raúl Revuelta, general manager of Los Cabos International Airport (San José del Cabo), mentioned that the airport has two terminals and that in the last four years, Terminal 2 has grown by 40 percent. The plan for the next four years is to expand it by another 40 percent to unify the arrival and departure of domestic and international passengers at Terminal 2.
“Terminal 2 will be complete, expanded, and will be able to handle both types of passengers. Terminal 1 will be temporarily closed, and depending on the growth rate, we will probably make the decision on when to build a new Terminal 1.”
The transition from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 is expected to take place between 2028 and 2029. Upon completion of the expansion, Los Cabos International Airport will have the capacity to handle 15 million passengers per year, currently handling around 7.5 million.
During Baja California Sur’s participation in the 2025 Tourist Tianguis, held in Baja California, the head of the state’s Ministry of Tourism and Economy, Maribel Collins Sánchez, announced new routes for the state.
TAR Airlines will connect La Paz with Aguascalientes and Los Mochis; while Viva Aerobús will begin operations from Tijuana and the AIFA in Mexico City to La Paz; and Volaris will open the Ontario, California – Los Cabos route.
The La Paz “Manuel Márquez de León” International Airport was inaugurated on May 19, 1970, by the Secretary of Public Works, Gilberto Valenzuela, representing President Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, during the term of Hugo Cervantes del Río, Governor of the then southern territory of Baja California.
According to the government report of that year, the airport began operations with a constructed area of 4,850 square meters and two connected buildings. The main building, 91.40 meters long and 21 meters wide, housed the airline companies; customs clearance and baggage claim; immigration and phytosanitary offices; and commercial concessions and services.
The other two-story building, measuring 31.60 by 30 meters per floor, housed the waiting rooms, the official lounge, the engine room, and services.
For aircraft takeoffs and landings, a 23-meter-high control tower was built for long-haul flights, with aircraft navigation and a machine room. A 2,500-meter-long by 45-meter-wide runway with low-intensity lighting was also built.
The government report stated that the total cost of the terminal building was 10,389,455 pesos, and the cost of the runways, fuel areas, and access road was 82,930,544 pesos, bringing the total investment to 93,320,000 pesos.
La Paz Airport, the second largest in Baja California Sur after Los Cabos International Airport, was named “Manuel Márquez de Léon” in honor of this South Californian soldier and politician. Born in the town of San Antonio on March 5, 1822, he joined the National Navy at the age of 21 and distinguished himself in the Mexican-American War, while stationed in the port of Mazatlán, Sinaloa.
Los Cabos International Airport opened in 1977 with a temporary terminal with a roof similar to a circus tent. The airport was expanded and renovated in 1997 with the construction of the current Terminal 1.
In 2002, the control tower was modernized, and Terminal 2 was later added due to the high demand for international flights to the destination.
Source: oem
