LIMA, PE.- Mexico needs to work on a master plan for the Mexico City International Airport (AICM) that will allow it to meet the growth expected in the coming years, as it requires a “dramatic change” and not just an aesthetic one, like the one being carried out in the framework of the 2026 World Cup.
“It has to be a national agenda. We know that the airports we have today are the ones we’ll have in the coming years. First, we need to develop a master plan for the next 25 years and start planning the budgets, choosing who will do the construction, and how it will be designed,” emphasized Peter Cerdá, regional vice president of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for the Americas.
In an interview with T21, within the framework of the 19th IATA World Cargo Symposium (WCS) , which is being held in Lima, Peru, he reiterated the need for the master plan, since a growth of between 4% and 8% year-on-year is expected at the AICM in passenger traffic over the next 14 or 15 years.
“We need a master plan to be developed so we know what the airport designs are and can work together. We want to implement the best practices that have been used at other airports. IATA has collaborated with the Mexican government on the construction of Tulum Airport and the verification of Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) . We have experience and want to contribute, but the airport does require a dramatic change to adapt to the growth of Mexico City,” he stated.
He mentioned that the analysis will have to determine whether a third terminal needs to be built or what changes are required in Terminal 1. He recalled that in the case of LaGuardia Airport in New York, a new terminal was built on top of the existing infrastructure, although it had no impact on passengers; “the impact was minimal.”
Cerdá considered that although the AICM remains the main entry point to Mexico, various airlines such as Air France or Iberia have expanded their connectivity to other airports such as Guadalajara, Cancun or Monterrey , “that gives the airport some breathing room, but it still remains the most important point of entry, especially in economic terms.”
Regarding the allocation of airport slots (takeoff and landing times) in the country under international standards, Cerdá expressed confidence that implementation will take place this year, given that progress is between 85% and 90% complete, although work remains on issues such as the regulatory framework. In this regard, he indicated that the goal is for implementation before the third quarter of the year.
“What we’re trying to do is accelerate that implementation. There’s no reason to wait until the end of the year, when we can already start working on certain mechanisms. There’s a regulatory framework that has the approval of the Congress of the Union to amend laws, but in a government where Congress is from the same political party, it should be relatively quick and easy. We want to move it forward because we see great opportunities for improvement, and there’s really no need to delay it any longer,” he stated.
Peter Cerdá announced that they will be meeting with the head of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) , Jesús Esteva, in the coming months to maintain a close and open relationship, with the purpose of working in an aligned manner so that the aeronautical industry can contribute to the development of the country.
According to statistics from the Mexico City airport, in 2025 the AICM handled approximately 44.6 million passengers. Although this figure represents a 1.7% decrease compared to 2024, the AICM remains the busiest airport in the country.
Comment and follow us on LinkedIn: @Evangelina del Toro / Correspondent / @GrupoT21
