February 10, 2026 – An 80-room executive hotel, built with a 100 million peso investment, four autonomous immigration checkpoints, and a baggage handling system with 33 percent greater capacity are among the improvements transforming operations at Querétaro International Airport (AIQ).
The terminal closed 2025 with 2.426 million passengers, a 16 percent increase over the previous year, and projects reaching up to 15 million users with the expansions included in its master plan.
The modernization of Querétaro Airport responds to a cumulative growth of 191 percent since 2021, when the terminal registered just 833,000 passengers annually.
Marco del Prete Tercero, Secretary of Sustainable Development for the state, reported that the current infrastructure allows the airport to serve between 3.5 and 5 million users, with the potential for expansion through plans already outlined in the master plan. Of the total passenger traffic, 70 percent is domestic and 30 percent is international.
In terms of air cargo, the Querétaro International Airport (AIQ) handled 83,000 tons last year, an 8 percent increase, positioning Querétaro as fourth in the nation in terms of cargo volume.
The official specified that the terminal currently has five contact positions with jet bridges and two remote positions, with the potential to reach approximately 20 positions as construction progresses.
“It’s a very functional terminal, with capacity for between three and a half and five million passengers,” explained Del Prete Tercero, who compared the AIQ’s maximum projected capacity with the current activity at the Cancún airport.
Among the most significant investments is the construction of an executive-class hotel across from the terminal, with an approximate investment of 100 million pesos. The project includes 80 rooms, a restaurant and bar, lounge areas, and services geared toward both flight crews and passengers with early arrivals or long layovers. Construction is already underway.
As part of the modernization process, four autonomous immigration checkpoints were installed, allowing travelers with electronic passports faster entry. Combined with six traditional checkpoints, the airport now has ten immigration processing points, sufficient capacity to handle large international flights in under 45 minutes, according to the Secretary.
The domestic baggage system also received improvements. The addition of a T-shaped conveyor belt increased processing capacity by 33 percent, reaching 1,800 bags per hour. Additional moving conveyor belts were added for international flights, while a new electronic access filter to the terminals will verify boarding passes before entry, streamlining passenger flow.
The terminal also includes the installation of flexible counters so that airlines can expand their service during peak seasons without depending on assigned fixed spaces.
Source: rotativo
