Mexico City airport prepares for growth despite ongoing capacity limits.

Mexico City International Airport (AICM) ended 2025 with a second consecutive annual decline in passenger numbers. However, the decline in traffic did not deter authorities which push forward with major renovation works and prepare for an expected surge in demand tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

According to official data, the airport handled approximately 44.6 million passengers last year, representing a 1.7% decrease compared with 2024. Domestic traffic experienced the sharpest contraction, dropping 4%, while international passenger volumes grew modestly by 2.1%. 2025 traffic represents only 88.6% of the historical high in passengers reached in 2019. That year, AICM accommodated 50.3 million passengers. After COVID, the airport had its best performance in 2023 with 48.4 million air travelers.

In May 2025, Mexico’s Federal Civil Aviation Agency authorized a slight increase in hourly operations, raising the limit from 43 to 44 takeoffs or landings during the summer scheduling season. Although airlines have gradually incorporated the additional slot, airport officials acknowledge that the expanded capacity has not yet been fully utilized.

Looking ahead, AICM’s leadership anticipates a significant rebound in traffic during 2026. Chief Executive Officer Juan José Padilla said passenger numbers could approach 50 million, fueled by strong travel demand due the FIFA event. He expects peak months surrounding the tournament to see full flights and passenger volumes rising as much as 20%, with monthly traffic potentially reaching 5.5 million travelers.

Despite these projections, airport management does not plan extraordinary increases in flight schedules beyond existing operational limits.

Limited upgrade ahead of FIFA World Cup due to financial issues

Last year, renovation work continues across both terminals as part of the airport’s modernization program. Terminal 1 has already seen upgrades in approximately 70% of its older boarding areas, including new flooring, lighting systems, ceilings, and passenger seating. Meanwhile, the Ministry of the Navy has launched renovation projects at Terminal 2, encompassing extensive maintenance of surrounding green areas and construction of a six-level parking structure.

The hosting of the FIFA World Cup pushed for additional improvements include redesigned commercial spaces, upgraded boarding lounges, and plans to install digital immigration processing systems aimed at streamlining passenger flows.

While authorities emphasize improvements to safety, passenger experience, and aesthetics, industry analysts argue that the upgrades fail to address the airport’s fundamental operational constraints. Experts highlight runway capacity as the primary limitation. AICM operates two main runways that cannot be fully used simultaneously for mixed operations due to their proximity, leaving limited room for growth. Operational challenges extend to aircraft parking capacity, where limited gate availability can cause aircraft to wait on taxiways.

Physical constraints are further compounded by the airport’s dense urban surroundings, which restrict expansion options. Analysts point to financial pressures, noting that revenues from airport fees have been allocated to servicing debt linked to the canceled Texcoco airport project. It consequently limits available funds for major infrastructure upgrades.