Guadalajara, Mexico – With a significant investment of 15.9 billion pesos, Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP) has inaugurated the second runway of the Guadalajara International Airport, along with other expansion and modernization projects. These advancements place Jalisco as a pivotal hub for national air connectivity.
The new runway, measuring 3,538 meters in length and 45 meters in width, is set to immediately boost the airport’s landing and takeoff capacity by 50%, with potential long-term increases of up to 70%, according to GAP’s general director, Raúl Revuelta. “With this second runway, there could be up to 50 or 52 operations per hour. To put it in context, with that capacity, AICM (Mexico City International Airport) handled 56 million passengers before its operations were reduced. So, this is a project that will allow us, on the air side, to have at least 20 years of capacity,” Revuelta Musalem stated.
Revuelta also mentioned that by the end of 2024, the Guadalajara airport is expected to handle 18.5 million passengers, with a projection to reach 23 million passengers by 2026, coinciding with Guadalajara’s role as a host city for the FIFA World Cup.
During the inauguration, which saw the first official operation of the new runway with a Volaris flight bound for Cancun, Revuelta disclosed to El Economista that GAP will soon announce its investment plan for the 2025-2029 period. This plan, he noted, will surpass the current five-year period’s investments and include the construction of a new terminal building.
“It includes the second terminal, it includes roads, which is one of the biggest headaches we have at the airport, it includes a large land reserve for the long term; we do not want to be stuck in the long term, like other airports, not only in Mexico but in the world, for not having land. We are buying land in the entire area to be able to satisfy the need for a third runway,” emphasized Revuelta.
Laura Diez Barroso Azcárraga, president of the GAP Board of Directors, highlighted the group’s resilience and commitment despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. “In the 2020-2024 five-year period, the airport group invested almost 16,000 million pesos, representing the largest investment in the history of the Guadalajara airport,” she noted.
Guadalajara International Airport, the third largest in Mexico for passenger and cargo operations, is poised to significantly enhance its landing and takeoff capacity by 50 to 70% in the long term. This will improve air traffic and expand international connectivity, positioning Guadalajara as a key player on the global aeronautical map, stressed Diez Barroso Azcárraga.
Beyond the runway, the expansion includes a mixed-use building featuring a 180-room Hilton Garden Inn hotel, two office buildings, a two-level shopping plaza, a bus parking lot, and an 11,704-square-meter expansion of the current terminal building. The parking lot’s capacity has also increased by 90%, now offering 4,000 spaces with a future capacity target of 10,000 spaces for cars.
“Jalisco has an even more solid growth perspective. These works at the airport will also allow us to bring Jalisco closer to the world for any purpose,” said Governor Enrique Alfaro Ramírez.
The Guadalajara airport currently operates 1,079 weekly departure frequencies with 10 airlines servicing 60 national and international destinations.
Miguel Enrique Vallin Osuna, director of the Federal Civil Aviation Agency, underscored the airline industry’s significant contribution to Mexico’s economy. In 2022, it represented 2.1% of the GDP and generated 1.4 million direct jobs. “According to our growth projections, over the next 20 years, we expect to grow from just over 101 million to 202 million passengers,” he stated. Vallin emphasized that this additional infrastructure will promote a sustained economy, facilitating regional development and global connectivity.
These extensive developments at the Guadalajara International Airport mark a substantial leap forward in strengthening Mexico’s aviation infrastructure, ensuring Jalisco remains a crucial gateway for both national and international travel.
