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.

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @Evangelina del Toro  / Correspondent /  @GrupoT21

El cargo Mexico City International Airport (AICM) needs a master plan to address growth in the coming years: IATA apareció primero en T21.

LIMA, PE.- Digitalization, strengthening standards and security in supply chains will allow us to face trade policies such as those of the United States and conflicts such as the one in the Middle East, which Iran is waging against the United States-Israel axis.

According to Brendan Sullivan, global head of Cargo at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) , the current system is stronger, but the environment is more demanding.

“For example, there is no guarantee that the tariff environment in place when a shipment is booked will still apply when it is loaded or delivered. Trade patterns can change rapidly, regions of origin can shift in a single season, and demand can redirect flows almost overnight. Supply chains must be agile enough to adapt in real time. Regulatory complexity is also increasing, with evolving advance data requirements, changes in import rules, and differing security expectations across markets,” he emphasized.

Under this scenario, Brendan Sullivan commented, within the framework of the 19th IATA World Cargo Symposium (WCS), that the goal is to make cargo transport more efficient, with a clearer focus , through digitalization which, among other things, will allow seamless transshipment across borders, although today cargo data is still in fragmented systems, generating duplication, risk of delay and exposure to compliance.

“This is especially challenging in high-volume environments like e-commerce , where vast amounts of household passcard data must be kept fully aligned with airline master records across multiple systems and jurisdictions. This is where the ONE Record standard plays a critical role. And the direction is clear. Since January of this year, ONE Record has become the preferred method for cargo data exchange,” he explained.

Similarly, he said that IATA will launch the Air Cargo AI Excellence Hub tool to accelerate the safe and practical adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) across the cargo ecosystem. It will also introduce SME, a mobile and web application that will allow operational teams to access cargo and safety standards.

“The goal is simple but powerful: to use digitalization and AI to help airlines and the supply chain work together more easily and effectively,” he emphasized.

Brendan Sullivan explained that for cargo to move smoothly across borders, global standards must be implemented consistently, because if shipments face different data requirements, security formats, and inspection processes, it will create complexity and increase the risk of delays.

“Variations will always exist. But they must remain transparent, justified, and as aligned as possible with global standards, reinforcing security without creating unnecessary complexity. Alignment is not just a matter of regulations; it also depends on access to the infrastructure that enables cargo movement,” he stated.

Regarding safety, he said that while Annex 18 of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) remains the global basis for the safe transport of dangerous goods by air, its modernization ensures that the regulation reflects operational reality and strengthens the entire supply chain against emerging threats.

“Security processes must evolve accordingly. The Cargo Shipping Security Declaration (CSD) is a critical compliance tool, but implementation is inconsistent. Interpretation varies by jurisdiction, and the adoption of electronic CSD solutions needs improvement. In many countries, it is still not used, resulting in manual processes, duplication, data inaccuracies, and avoidable delays. The direction is clear: security data must be consistently collected and transferred throughout the global supply chain,” he emphasized.

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @Evangelina del Toro / Correspondent / @GrupoT21

El cargo IATA accelerates digitalization for cargo handling apareció primero en T21.