Starting in 2026, Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) will have increased apron capacity and additional positions , which will allow for increased cargo handling and make it the primary freight terminal.

According to the 2025-2030 Institutional Program , published by the Ministry of National Defense (Defensa) in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) , cargo growth projects were anticipated; the initial infrastructure installed alone consisted of 16 facilities and warehouses to process 570,000 tons per year.

However, to date, six additional facilities have been built , increasing capacity by 240,000 tons, so that the cargo terminal currently has a total capacity of 810,000 tons per year with 22 facilities and warehouses.

Apron capacity is also being expanded to accommodate more aircraft simultaneously. Currently, five larger aircraft can be accommodated on the apron, and with the expansion, which will be completed in January 2026, there will be four additional positions for aircraft of the same type, such as the  Boeing 747-8F, for a total of nine positions.

“The projects described above are financed with our own resources; furthermore, the growth momentum is expected to continue and consolidate over the next five years, which will require beginning work on planning for the second phase of the AIFA Master Development Program,” the document stated.

The Ministry of Defense asserted that air cargo transportation is a strength that will be consolidated in less time than projected , so it will be necessary to accelerate the required investment “to expand the infrastructure at the cargo terminal as quickly as possible and meet the demand that will arise.”

He emphasized that the development of the northern part of the Valley of Mexico to create a development hub through an industrial logistics corridor, from the city of Pachuca to the northern part of Mexico City, will make AIFA a “center of gravity.”

“The scenario described above is an opportunity that AIFA will seize to establish another commercial strategy for the development of the Airport City, which will allow for orderly growth, in accordance with the land uses designated in the Master Development Plan for that space, which includes health services, shopping centers, parking lots, corporate buildings, aviation-related schools, and a ground transportation terminal,” he said.

Currently, 43 airlines operate freight transport through the AIFA : 17 scheduled cargo airlines, 26 charter airlines, and three mixed airlines (passenger and cargo), transporting a total of more than 633,000 tons.

By 2050, the Ministry of Defense has projected the maximum development of the AIFA , with the following characteristics:

• Three runways . For this stage of the project, the airport’s new north runway will be built, which will be used primarily for cargo handling.
• Two interconnected terminal buildings with a capacity of 85 million passengers . A second passenger terminal building will be built, and the connection building between the two passenger terminals will be completed, along with the expansion of Terminals 1 and 2 to increase the number of connecting positions.
• A cargo terminal with a capacity for three million tons per year . With the construction of the third runway, the airport’s cargo vocation is consolidated, with the construction of new facilities for this purpose, achieving the capacity to handle up to three million tons per year.
• A fuel terminal with a capacity of 80 million liters of jet fuel . The fuel terminal will also be expanded to meet fuel needs resulting from increased operations, with a capacity of up to 85 million liters.
• Control tower . The control tower was built from the ground up with the necessary and sufficient capacity to continue providing its services efficiently until the airport’s maximum development.

Additionally, he specified that a major challenge lies in developing a commercial and marketing strategy that will allow international airlines from Europe, Asia, and North America to be brought in , thereby boosting demand for flights to the airport.

Comment and follow us on X:  @evandeltoro  /  @GrupoT21

El cargo AIFA seeks to have greater cargo handling capacity by 2026. apareció primero en T21.