Airport Overview
Mexico City International Airport (Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México, AICM); officially Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez (Benito Juárez International Airport) is an international airport that serves Greater Mexico City.
MEX sustains 35,000 jobs directly and around 15,000 indirectly in the immediate area. The airport is owned by Grupo Aeroportuario de la Ciudad de México and operated by Aeropuertos Servicios Auxiliares, the government-owned corporation, which also operates 22 other airports throughout Mexico.
Airport Stats & Facts
- This airport is served by 30 domestic and international passenger airlines and 17 cargo carriers.
- MEX Airport is Mexico's and Latin America's busiest airport by passenger traffic and aircraft movements, and the 33rd busiest in the world
- As the main hub for Mexico's largest airline Aeroméxico (with Aeroméxico Connect), the airport has become a SkyTeam hub.
- It is also a hub for Aeromar and Volaris and a focus city for VivaAerobús.
- On a typical day, more than 136,000 passengers pass through the airport to and from more than 100 destinations on four continents.
- In 2020, the airport handled over 21M passengers.
Airport Traveling Tips
- Checked luggage needs to be claimed and re-checked if you are transferring flights.
- You’ll save yourself considerable time if you pack light and cram everything into your carry-on.
- You’ve got a fair distance to cover between international arrivals and domestic departures.
- Depending on where you are coming from you may have to transfer between the two terminals. The airport is old so navigating Mexico City airport isn’t simple.
- Best to reach Terminal 2 via shuttle, which is on the 2nd level.
- To better orient yourself, have a look at the MEX Airport Map before visiting the airport.
Passenger Pickup and Drop-off
- Passengers can be picked up and dropped-off outside the terminal.
- If you have to wait for the arriving passengers, use the Cell Phone Waiting Lot, located just off Terminal Drive near the main entry plaza. Vehicles must be attended at all times.
Flight Status
- Arrival flight status provides the arrival times, gate information, delays, and time to land for the Mexico City Airport.
- Departing flight status lists scheduled vs actual departure, gate information, map tracking, and flight delays.
- To get the best fares, book a flight at MEX here.
Airport Terminals
- Mexico City Airport consists of two terminals (T1 and T2).
- T2 is newer than T1, and houses all AeroMexico and most Star Alliance airlines.
- The terminals are approximately 3km apart, and are connected by a free train, and a fare-charging bus.
- Train passengers must have a valid ticket and carry-on luggage only. If you have checked luggage or no proof of onward travel, you must pay to use the bus or other ground transportation.
- Both terminals have a decent range of shopping and dining options, with a number of 24-hour options located throughout.
To see the terminal locations and for more information, please refer to the MEX Terminal Map here.
Airlines Served
The various airlines served at Mexico City International Airport include Interjet, Volaris, Aeromar, Magnicharters, AeroUnion, Mas Air, Aeroméxico Connect and Aeroméxico, and more.
View the full list of airlines served at MEX Airport here.
Airport Parking
Daily Garage Parking
Rates and services The Mexico City International Airportoffers travelers and users 3 parking lots, monitored by a security camera system. Parking lots offer general services such as bathrooms, elevators, prepay machines and a billing area in each terminal. The parking lots provide free transportation and preferential parking spaces to seniors, handicap people and pregnant women.
Courtyard
- Each Hour: $2
- Daily Max: $15
MEX - Nacional Terminal 1
- 30 Min: $22
- 45 Min: $33
- 1 Hour: $44
- 24 Hours: $288
MEX - Internacional Terminal 1
- 30 Min: $22
- 45 Min: $33
- 1 Hour: $44
- 24 Hours: $288
Ground Transport
Many transport options are available for passengers from Mexico City Airport. There are plenty of options for traveling including rental cars, bus, shuttle, taxi, rideshare services, etc.
Rental Cars
There are multiple rental car agencies located on site at Mexico City Airport. The counters are located near the central entrance of the terminal building on the lower level.
Taxis
Taxi turns out to be one of the best ways to get to and from Mexico City Airport with an average trip time of 20 minutes. It is very important to pay attention to the distances and times before using the taxi services in Mexico City.
Public Transport
There is no intercity or commuter passenger rail network in Mexico; the only passenger trains in the city are the lines of the suburban railway (tren suburbano) and the light railway (tren ligero).
Amenities & Services
For visitors to have a great stay, Mexico City International Airport provides plenty of amenities and services including:
- Store, gift shops, and local souvenir shops.
- Restaurants, bars, and lounges
- Shoeshine stations, and massage bars.
- Free Wi-Fi internet throughout the airport.
- Multiple art installations and exhibits on display.
- Vending machines, and banks/ATMs.
Contact Information
Address: Av. Capitán Carlos León S/N, Peñón de los Baños, Venustiano Carranza, 15620 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Website: https://www.aicm.com.mx/en/
Phone: 25990769
Mexico City International Airport: A Brief History Timeline
- The original site, known as Llanos de Balbuena, had been used for aeronautical activities since 1910, when Alberto Braniff became the first to fly an aeroplane in Mexico, and in Latin America.
- On December 2, 1963, Walter C. Buchanan, former director of the Transport and Communications Department (SCT), changed the airport's name "Aeropuerto Central" (Central Airport) to "Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México" (Mexico City International Airport)
- The AICM has continually improved its infrastructure. On August 15, 1979, and after about a year of remodeling works, the terminal building reopened to the public; the airport continued its operations during the renovation, which improved passenger transit with better space distribution in walkways and rooms.
- The Communications and Transportation Ministry (SCT), Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares (ASA) and AICM performed expansion and remodeling work on Terminal 1, over a surface area of 90,000 square metres (970,000 sq ft); 48,000 of which were new construction and 42,000 of which were remodeled. The renovations include new airline counters, commercial spaces and an elevator for people with disabilities, which improved the flow of passengers with domestic destinations.
- Among other works performed in the international area, a long-distance bus terminal was built with connections to Puebla, Cuernavaca, Pachuca, Toluca, Querétaro and Orizaba.
- The new bus station has access to a food court and the international arrivals and departures area, as well as a pedestrian bridge that connects to "The Peñón de los Baños" neighbourhood.
- The airport was formally named after the 19th-century president Benito Juárez in 2006.
