For foreign travelers, Mexico remains one of the world’s leading tourist destinations, a situation that continues to boost both the aviation industry and the revenues of the country’s international airports, which welcome tens of millions of passengers every year.
However, the arrival of international tourists is not evenly distributed. Although Mexico has 80 airports, 66 of which handle international operations, only four airports account for more than 76% of all foreign passengers entering the country.
Busiest Airports
According to the latest report from the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC), 26,807,500 international passengers arrived in Mexico between January and May of this year. Of that total, more than 20 million traveled through the airports of Cancún, Mexico City, Guadalajara, and San José del Cabo. But which of these terminals handles the largest share of the market?
Tourists’ Preferred Destinations
According to AFAC data, Cancún International Airport received the highest number of international passengers, welcoming 8.9 million travelers during the first five months of the year.
In second place was Mexico City International Airport (AICM), with 7.1 million international passengers.
The third position went to Guadalajara International Airport, which recorded 2.4 million foreign travelers between January and May, while San José del Cabo International Airport welcomed 2.1 million.
Puerto Vallarta International Airport ranked fifth with 1.7 million international passengers during the same period.
Other airports that stood out for international arrivals included:
- Monterrey: 997,000 passengers.
- Del Bajío: 402,000 passengers.
- Morelia: 343,500 passengers.
- Querétaro: 301,000 passengers.
- Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA): 145,500 passengers.
GAP, OMA, and ASUR Dominate Mexico’s Airport Market
Although Mexico’s airports are managed by different operators, most international passenger traffic is concentrated within three airport groups: Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP), Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste (ASUR), and Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte (OMA).
According to the AFAC, GAP has the strongest presence among the country’s busiest international airports, managing five of the top ten terminals for foreign travelers: Guadalajara, San José del Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, Morelia, and Del Bajío.
Meanwhile, ASUR operates Cancún International Airport, while OMA manages Monterrey International Airport.
As for Mexico City International Airport (AICM) and Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), both are administered by the Grupo Aeroportuario Marina, an organization affiliated with Mexico’s Armed Forces.
Source: elceo
