new international airport in mexico city

The old lakebed played a critical role controlling water flow and preventing floods in the city. There were also objections, mostly of an ecological nature. Texcoco was clearly the best option: it was relatively close to the city, had plenty of space to expand, and the government owned most of the land in the area. Also, the nearby mountains presented problems for air traffic controllers and pilots.

Tizayuca was considered too far from the city. Among the options again was the 1980s plan to build a third runway just outside of the perimeter of Benito Juárez.įeasibility studies indicated two viable options: a replacement airport at Texcoco or a supplemental one near the town of Tizayuca, 80 kilometers north-northwest of Mexico City. In order to provide relief, in 1994, all general aviation flights were moved to Toluca Airport.įrom 1996 onward, new studies were conducted into long-term solutions for Mexico City's aviation needs. Traffic growth returned to 'MEX' in the 1990s. However, during the 1980s, growth at Benito Juárez leveled off with passenger numbers hovering around the 10-11 million passenger mark and thus the plans were dropped. The bus connection between the terminal and concourses would be upgraded to an automated people mover shuttle (APM). Later on, four additional runways and two boarding concourses could be built, after which the current runways would be closed. The passenger terminal would remain in the existing location. Passengers would be transported by bus between the main terminal and the new boarding concourse. The plans envisaged the construction of a third parallel runway and a remote boarding concourse northeast of the current airport, an idea first proposed in 1970. The Texcoco and Toluca options were rejected, mainly on the basis that they were deemed to be too far from the city and the option to expand Benito Juárez remained. Three options remained: A brand new airport on the Texcoco lakebed, 14 miles (23 kilometers) from the city, which would replace Benito Juarez expansion of the newly built Toluca Airport or a (radical) expansion of Benito Juárez. Nine possibilities were studied, including eight new sites and an expansion of Benito Juárez. Studies into a large-scale, long-term solutions for Mexico City's need for airport capacity continued.

New international airport in mexico city