Mexico City International Airport (AICM) is experiencing a 15% to 20% growth in its commercial area following the completion of the terminal’s renovation, which is expected to increase its total revenue by four to five percentage points . However, this figure remains below international standards.
Jesús Gilberto Argaiz, Commercial Director of AICM, explained that they currently have 95% of their surface area occupied , but are recovering spaces with the changes being made to this air infrastructure.
“We have already outlined the commercial areas we require, and they are only now going to give us the available space,” he stated in an interview following his participation in the Airport Commercial Forum organized by ACI-LAC.
Currently, 25% of the total revenue of the AICM corresponds to the commercial sector, although there are airports worldwide that reach up to 50 percent.
“Hopefully we’ll reach 50%, but with that growth, we’ll have between four and five percentage points more (in revenue). The airport has already completed its first phase of renovation; the most important aspects were security, image, and functionality. Today, security checkpoint times are very fast. Before, it took 15 minutes, and we reduced it to eight. Now, passengers pass through a security checkpoint in five or six minutes. This speed allows passengers to spend more time inside, and commercial spending increases,” Argaiz commented.
He mentioned that they are looking to increase the average user spending, raising it from 150 pesos to 300 pesos; therefore, the actions they have taken include improving the user experience, speeding up entry, commercial offers, better prices, among others.
Jesús Gilberto Argaiz specified that currently the contracts for establishments at the AICM are for four years, however, modifications can be made depending on the investments made.
“From the airport’s commercial management, we administer 3,200 contracts. We have well-behaved clients , we don’t have significant debts, we have very minor issues in some locations; it’s a legal matter that has been ongoing for several years,” Argaiz explained.
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