# Los Cabos International Airport

Los Cabos International Airport (Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional de Los Cabos) (IATA: SJD, ICAO: MMSD) is an international airport located in San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico, serving as the main gateway to the popular tourist destination of the Los Cabos region on the Baja California Peninsula. Annually, the airport attracts millions of tourists, predominantly from the United States and Canada, with flights connecting to 30 U.S. cities and 11 Canadian cities. Major U.S. and Canadian airlines operate flights to and from Los Cabos, linking to their primary and secondary hubs.
Additionally, the airport is a focal point for domestic travel, connecting to 18 cities within Mexico and serving as a focus city for Viva. It plays a crucial role in a busy air corridor linking the Baja California Peninsula to Mainland Mexico. Managed by Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, the airport also supports various activities in general and executive aviation, as well as flight training. It is the larger of two airports that serve the Los Cabos region; the smaller Cabo San Lucas International Airport is about 26 kilometres (16 mi) to the south of San Jose del Cabo.
Los Cabos Airport is the sixth-busiest in Mexico and the 24th-busiest in Latin America by passenger numbers. It ranks fourth in Mexico for international passengers and eighth in aircraft movements. The airport handled 7,488,200 passengers in 2024, a 2.95% decrease from 2022, with 61% of them traveling to or from international destinations.

## History

Los Cabos International Airport was inaugurated in 1977, featuring an initial provisional terminal with a roof reminiscent of a circus tent and equipped with technical systems using polyurethane foam and hot air vents. As the Los Cabos beach resort gained popularity among American and Canadian tourists, the airport underwent a substantial expansion and renovation in 1997, resulting in the construction of the current Terminal 1, accommodating both domestic and international flights.
In 2002, the control tower received an upgrade with advanced technology during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum hosted in Los Cabos. Terminal 2 was subsequently added to facilitate increased international flights, and a new highway provided direct access to the tourist zone. Between 2008 and 2011, Terminal 1 underwent renovations, and a newly built Terminal 3 was constructed adjacent to Terminal 2. The general aviation apron was relocated, and a dedicated terminal for general aviation activities was established at the northern end of the airport grounds.
In September 2011, the airport briefly offered non-stop flights to Shanghai, China. In 2014, Hurricane Odile caused substantial damage, leading to an 18-day suspension of operations before reopening on October 3, 2014. The airport's infrastructure has faced challenges due to a surge in holiday resorts and rapid regional population growth, resulting in insufficient capacity during peak hours.
Between 2018 and 2020, Terminal 3 was fully integrated with Terminal 2, adopting the name Terminal 2 and undergoing further expansion in 2022 with additional jet bridges for boarding planes. From 2019 to 2020, TUI Airways provided flights to and from London Gatwick Airport, and since 2023, Spain's carrier Iberojet has operated daily flights to Madrid.

## Facilities

Los Cabos International Airport is situated 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north of San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, at an elevation of 114 metres (374 ft) above mean sea level. The airport features a single runway, designated as 16/34, measuring 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) with an asphalt surface. The commercial aviation apron accommodates 22 narrow-body aircraft. Nonetheless, the airport is capable of receiving wide-body aircraft. For general aviation, there is a dedicated apron with stands for fixed-wing aircraft and heliports for private aviation.

### Terminal 1

The airport operates two terminals. Terminal 1, covering an area of 16,580 square metres (178,500 sq ft), manages arrival and departure facilities for domestic flights within a single-story building. It features a distinctive roof over the departures concourse with peaked white structures. The arrivals area includes a baggage claim area, car rental services, taxi stands, snack bars, and souvenir shops. The departures section includes a check-in area, a security checkpoint, and a concourse with a food court and 8 gates on the ground level, allowing passengers to walk to their aircraft. From this departure concourse, access to a mezzanine is available, which houses a VIP lounge.

### Terminal 2

Terminal 2 is a two-story structure. The ground floor manages arrivals with customs and immigration facilities, a baggage claim area, car rental services, taxi stands, snack bars, and souvenir shops. The upper floor is dedicated to departures, featuring check-in areas, a security checkpoint, and a departure area with a 400-meter-long concourse. This section includes restaurants, food stands, duty-free shops, and 19 gates, nine of which are equipped with jet bridges. A VIP lounge in Terminal 2 is situated past security, facing Gate 8.

## Airlines and destinations
### Passenger

| Airlines | Destinations |
| Aero | Charter: Los Angeles–Van Nuys |
| Aeroméxico | Mexico City |
| Aeroméxico Connect | Mexico City |
| Air Canada | Seasonal: Montreal–Trudeau, Toronto–Pearson, Vancouver |
| Alaska Airlines | Los Angeles, Portland (OR), San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose (CA), Seattle/Tacoma Seasonal: Las Vegas, Sacramento |
| American Airlines | Austin, Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Phoenix–Sky Harbor Seasonal: Charlotte |
| Condor | Seasonal: Frankfurt |
| Delta Air Lines | Atlanta, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Seattle/Tacoma Seasonal: Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York–JFK |
| Flair Airlines | Seasonal: Vancouver |
| Frontier Airlines | Phoenix–Sky Harbor |
| Iberojet | Seasonal: Madrid |
| JetBlue | New York–JFK |
| Magni | Mazatlán, Mexico City, Monterrey Seasonal: Puerto Vallarta |
| Mexicana de Aviación | Guadalajara, Mexico City–AIFA |
| Southwest Airlines | Austin, Denver, Houston–Hobby, Nashville, Oakland, Orange County, Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Sacramento, San Diego Seasonal: Baltimore, Chicago–Midway, Kansas City, St. Louis |
| Sun Country Airlines | Seasonal: Minneapolis/St. Paul |
| Sunwing Airlines | Edmonton, Toronto–Pearson Seasonal: Calgary, Montreal–Trudeau, Vancouver, Winnipeg |
| United Airlines | Chicago–O'Hare, Denver, Houston–Intercontinental, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco |
| Viva | Cancun, Culiacán, Mexico City, Mexico City–AIFA, Monterrey, Querétaro, Tijuana, Toluca/Mexico City, Torreón/Gómez Palacio Seasonal: Cincinnati, Guadalajara, Hermosillo |
| Volaris | Culiacán, Guadalajara, León/El Bajío, Mexicali, Mexico City, Mexico City–AIFA, Oakland (begins March 20, 2025), Ontario (begins July 4, 2025), Querétaro, Tijuana, Toluca/Mexico City Seasonal charter: Atlanta |
| WestJet | Calgary, Vancouver Seasonal: Edmonton, Kelowna, Victoria, Winnipeg |

#### Notes

^1 Viva's flight to Cancún makes a stopover in Toluca.

### Destination maps
## Busiest routes

Busiest domestic routes from Los Cabos International Airport (2023) :
| Rank | City | Passengers | Ranking | Airline |
| 1 | Mexico City | 528,486 | | Aeroméxico, Aeroméxico Connect, Magni, Viva Aerobus, Volaris |
| 2 | Tijuana | 266,033 | | Viva Aerobus, Volaris |
| 3 | Guadalajara | 263,017 | | Viva Aerobus, Volaris |
| 4 | Culiacán | 113,280 | | Viva Aerobus, Volaris |
| 5 | Monterrey | 91,256 | | Magni, Viva Aerobus, Volaris |
| 6 | Toluca | 88,116 | | Viva Aerobus, Volaris |
| 7 | León/El Bajío | 36,318 | | Volaris |
| 8 | Mexico City-AIFA | 29,441 | 1 | Viva Aerobus, Volaris |
| 9 | Querétaro | 23,481 | | Viva Aerobus, Volaris |
| 10 | Hermosillo | 15,683 | 2 | Viva Aerobus |
Busiest international routes from Los Cabos International Airport (2023) :
| Rank | City | Passengers | Ranking | Airline |
| 1 | Los Angeles | 377,847 | | Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, United Airlines |
| 2 | Dallas-Fort Worth | 242,763 | | American Airlines, Spirit Airlines |
| 3 | Phoenix–Sky Harbor | 222,371 | 1 | American Airlines, Southwest Airlines |
| 4 | Houston (Intercontinental and Hobby) | 207,863 | 1 | Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, United Airlines |
| 5 | San Francisco | 143,305 | | Alaska Airlines, United Airlines |
| 6 | Denver | 128,324 | 1 | Southwest Airlines, United Airlines |
| 7 | Seattle | 105,910 | 1 | Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines |
| 8 | Chicago (O'Hare and Midway) | 101,687 | | American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines |
| 9 | Atlanta | 77,092 | | Delta Air Lines, Volaris |
| 10 | New York | 72,412 | | Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways |

### Notes

* ↑ The official statistics combine both George Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports.
* ↑ The official statistics combine both O'Hare and Midway airports.