Latin America’s Best and Worst Airports | Latin Trade Latin America’s Best and Worst Airports Sntiago Airport, Chile. iSTOCK Our readers have selected the best airports in Latin America. Santiago continues to be the most popular airport in Latin America among Latin Trade readers. It received the top spot in comfort/ambience and shops/amenities. The airport received 10.3 million passengers in 2010, according to Airports Council International. Panama City is right behind, though, thanks to getting most votes in customs/baggage, ease of connection and location/access. Thanks largely to efforts by Panamanian airline Copa, the airport is becoming a major hub for traffic in Latin America. Last year the airport handled 5 million passengers. That compares with only 1.3 million tourist arrivals that year, clearly showing how the airport is being used as a hub. Mexico City, Latin America’s second-largest passenger airport, moved up to third place (from 4th in our previous reader survey). It received more votes than Santiago in customs/baggage and ease of connection.

The airport received 24.1 million passengers in 2010, ranking it second in passenger traffic in Latin America, according to Latin Business Chronicle. Lima improved dramatically compared with our previous reader survey, jumping from 10th to fourth place. It received the top score in comfort/ambience and second-highest score in ease of connection. Long gone are the days when the airport was considered one of the worst in Latin America. What about Guarulhos in Sao Paulo, last year’s worst-ranked airport? This year, it actually managed to improve its score slightly (from 2.2 to 2.3) while Caracas saw a decline (from 2.3 to 2.1), leading the latter to have the dubious honor of being ranked as Latin America’s worst airport for business travelers.

Latin America's Best and Worst Airports (Click image to view at full size) Mexico City's New Airport to Bolster Travel to Latin America | Travel Agent Central Mexico City's New Airport to Bolster Travel to Latin America by Meagan Drillinger | Oct 21, 2014 1:00am As more of Latin America becomes appealing to travelers, Mexico City has had to respond to a growing problem: the size of its main airport, Benito Juarez International Airport. The airport handles more than 24 million passengers each year and is Latin America's second-busiest airport, after Sao Paulo. That said, the airport was hardly equipped to handle the volume of passengers that flow through on a daily basis, resulting in delays, pileups and headaches. As Mexico City and Central America open up as leisure destinations to the North American market and beyond, President Enrique Pena Nieto has put forth plans to address the problem with the construction of the new International Airport of Mexico City. The Current Problem Currently operational saturation of Benito Juarez significantly restricts its ability to grow and become more competitive. This not only impacts the flow of passengers, but also affects the movement of goods.

Although Mexico City has a strategic location for connecting passenger flow between North America, Europe and Asia, the current airport is not able to compete with the best infrastructure of other airports on the continent, the Mexico Tourism Board says. The Mexican Institute of Transportation estimates that in 2015, Benito Juarez could have up to 18 planes waiting for takeoff, implying 20-minute delays on average. Benito Juarez has reached its technical limits of operation and can only serve 32 million passengers a year. The Solution The new airport will be located six miles from the existing airport. On the ground it will fit six runways, with the capacity to support the entire demand for the airport area. In the first phase, three parallel tracks will open, with a capacity for more than 50 million passengers annually. The second phase will unveil the final runways and increase the airport capacity to 120 million passengers per year. President Pena Nieto says that the new airport will bring economic, social and environmental benefits. "Only the construction will have a significant economic impact across the country, and will also be a great source of employment for the families of the Metropolitan Area of the Valley of Mexico," the president said in a statement.

"It is estimated that the construction process directly or indirectly will employ more than 160,000 people." "No doubt, another great benefit of the airport will be the impetus to tourism in Mexico," he continues. "There will be more airlines, a wider choice of flights, times and locations, and therefore will be able to receive more tourists." Mexico City Rising Over the past year, Travel Agent has visited Mexico City several times and can attest to the growth of this destination as a city that is ready for North Americans. "People are calling me about Mexico and not asking about security. They are just going," Hope Smith, owner of Born to Travel, said at a roundtable conducted by Travel Agent at Tianguis Turistico, held last May. "My business to Mexico City especially has increased. I can't believe how many people are going." Mitch Toren, chief vacation engineer, Trip Guy, added at the same roundtable, "Mexico is our largest growth market. Two years ago Mexico was off the table before you could even pitch it. We see much less resistance now." When staying in Mexico City, there are a wealth of hotel options. For over-the-top luxury, we suggest checking into the St. Regis Mexico City .

The St. Regis Mexico City sits right on the Paseo de la Reforma, the veritable “Champs-Elysees” of Mexico City. Within walking distance to the hotel are the neighborhoods Polanco and Condesa, which are likened to the Fifth Avenue and SoHo of Mexico City. The hotel is also about a 25-minute drive from the heart of Mexico’s Downtown Centro Historico, where travelers can find gorgeous Spanish architecture, ancient pre-Hispanic ruins, museums, galleries, restaurants and fine arts. Another wonderful hotel option is Downtown , one of the many Grupo Habita boutique hotels in Mexico. The historic 17th-century palace-turned-hotel is smack-dab in the center of Mexico City’s Centro Historico. Make a right out of the building and you walk directly into the city’s gorgeous Zocalo, or central plaza, home to the cathedral, the National Palace and the Federal District buildings. Inside the palace guests can wind their way from room to room on the mezzanine level to discover different shops, including two Mexican restaurants, one tapas restaurant, an artisanal Mexican chocolate shop, a mescal bar, art galleries, a jewelry shop and more. A third option is Hotel Habita .

The intimate boutique hotel sits directly on Avenida Presidente Masaryk, the 5th Avenue of Mexico City. We stayed in room #45, a deluxe king room with a bath tub and private terrace. All rooms have access to the BMW house car, minibar, in-house music channels, MALIN + GOETZ bathroom amenities, TV and DVD player. Services include laundry, fax, free high-speed Internet, business center and 24-hour room service. The hotel evokes a very cosmopolitan-chic vibe, with modern, clean lines and stark whites contrasted against natural earth tones. During the day it plays host to locals who will dine in the lobby restaurant. (Be sure to check out the gorgeous breakfast spread, with fresh fruit, meats, cheeses, breads and spreads - fresh, healthy and delicious!) On the fifth floor guests will find the pool and deck, where we sat back and relaxed for some sun and a few cold Modelos. There is also a fitness center, treatment room and sauna on the fifth floor. As for activities, a trip to Mexico City is incomplete without a visit to Pujol, which is heralded as the number one restaurant in Mexico.

The intimate Pujol is in the upscale Polanco neighborhood. Diners are treated to an eight-course tasting menu which changes regularly based on what is in season. It is best to make reservations months in advance as the tiny restaurant fills up quickly. This is also a two-and-a-half-hour affair, so make sure you carve out plenty of time to savor every morsel. Want something a little more low-brow? Wander the streets of Mexico's trendy Coyoacan neighborhood to sample tacos, churros, quesadillas, tortas and fruit juices. Continue your trip the next day with a visit to Mexico’s cultural downtown. Here you will find dozens of museums. Explore the Palacio de Bellas Artes, which is Mexico City’s fine art museum. On the second and third floors of the lobby you will find stunning murals that depict important moments in Mexico’s early 20th-century history. The museum is currently celebrating its 80th year. Mexico City is home to more than 1,500 art galleries and museums, making it a great destination for culture vultures.

Read more on Major Airlines of Latin America and the Caribbean - Nations Online Project Major Airlines of Latin America and the Caribbean ___ Major Airlines of Latin America and the Caribbean List of flag air carriers, domestic airlines, commercial airlines with passenger and cargo service, scheduled air carrier and low cost airlines. For more information about the companies click on the link to connect to the official site. The country links will open the respective country profile. Airlines of countries in the Caribbean Bookmark/share this page Aerolineas Argentinas IATA Designator: AR, ICAO Designator: ARG, Callsign: ARGENTINA Aerolineas Argentinas is the flag carrier of Argentina and the largest airline in the country.It operates a regional flight network within South America and offers flights to cities in Mexico ( Mexico City ), the United States ( Miami ), Europe ( Barcelona , Madrid and Rome ) and to Auckland in New Zealand and Sydney , Australia . Its main hubs are at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP) and Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE), located 22 km (14 mi) south-southwest of Buenos Aires , Argentina's capital.

LAN Argentina IATA Designator: 4M, ICAO Designator: DSM, Callsign: LANAR LAN Argentina is an affiliate of LAN Airlines. It operates scheduled domestic services and international services to Lima ( Peru ), Miami (Florida, USA ), Punta Cana ( Dominican Republic ), Santiago ( Chile ) and Sao Paulo ( Brazil ). Its main bases are Jorge Newbery Airport (AEP) and Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE), both located in Buenos Aires. Sol Líneas Aéreas IATA Designator: 8R, ICAO Designator: OLS, Callsign: FLIGHTSOL Sol Líneas Aéreas is a regional airline, it operates domestic flights as well as to Montevideo , Uruguay. Main hub is at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP), a main airport for domestic flights in Buenos Aires. AeroSur IATA Designator: SL, ICAO Designator: ASU, Callsign: AEREOSUR AeroSur is Bolivia's biggest airline and one of the flag carrier of Bolivia. AeroSur operates domestic and regional scheduled services and some international flights to Europe and the US.

Its main hub is at Viru Viru International Airport (VVI), Bolivia's main air gateway of international flights. The airport is located near Santa Cruz. Boliviana de Aviación (BoA) IATA Designator: LB, ICAO Designator: -, Callsign: - BoA is the other Bolivian flag carrier. It operates scheduled domestic routes and international services to São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) in Brazil and Buenos Aires in Argentina. The airline has its main hub at Jorge Wilstermann International Airport (CBB) near Cochabamba in central Bolivia. Lloyd Aereo Boliviano S.A.- L.A.B. (defunct) IATA Designator: LB, ICAO Designator: LLB, Callsign: LLOYDAEREO LAB was the most important national airline of Bolivia until 2007. The airline has served South-America, Mexico, Miami, and the Caribbean. Avianca Brazil IATA Designator: O6, ICAO Designator: ONE, Callsign: OCEANAIR The former OceanAir is a subsidiary of Avianca (Colombia).

Avianca Brazil is a regional airline which operates passenger services to 18 destinations in Brazil. Its main base is at Guarulhos International Airport (GRU), São Paulo and it operates a secondary hub at Brasília International Airport (BSB). Azul Brazilian Airlines IATA Designator: AD, ICAO Designator: AZU, Callsign: AZUL Azul is a domestic low-cost carrier which operates flights to destinaions within Brazil. Its hub is at Campinas-Viracopos Airport (VCP), near Campinas. GOL - GOL Transportes Aeros IATA Designator: G3, ICAO Designator: GLO, Callsign: GOL The Brazilian airline operates a domestic routes network and growing international services to destinations in the Caribbean and South America. The fleet of VRG Linhas Aéreas combines the brands Gol and Varig. Its main hubs are at Congonhas Airport (CGH), São Paulo , Galeão International Airport (GIG) near Rio de Janeiro and Brasília International Airport (BSB), Brasília .

TAM Linhas Aeras IATA Designator: JJ, ICAO Designator: TAM, Callsign: TAM TAM Airlines is the largest airline in Latin America and Brszil's flag carrier. It operates domestic scheduled services and also international flights to destinations in North and South America and Europe. Its main hub airports are at São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU), at Brasília International Airport (BSB), Brasília , Brazil's capital city, and at Galeão International Airport (GIG) near Rio de Janeiro . IATA Designator: T4, ICAO Designator: TIB, Callsign: TRIP TRIP Linhas Aéreas operates an extensive network of scheduled domestic service to about 80 destinations within Brazil.

WebJet Linhas Aéreas IATA Designator: WH (WJ), ICAO Designator: WEB, Callsign: WEBJET Webjet Linhas Aéreas is a Brazilian low cost airline, it operates domestic services to 14 cities in Brazil: Belo Horizonte, Brasília, Curitiba, Fortaleza, Foz do Iguaçu, Natal, Navegantes, Porto Alegre, Porto Seguro, Recife, Ribeirão Preto, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador da Bahia, and São Paulo. LAN Airlines IATA Designator: LA, ICAO Designator: LAN, Callsign: LAN LAN is Chile's national flag carrier, the largest airline in the country and one of the largest airlines in Latin America. LAN operates an extensive network of both domestic and international flights to destinations in Latin America and the United States, to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand, and to Paris, Frankfurt and Madrid in Europe.

Its main hub is Santiago International Airport (SCL) near Santiago Sky Airlines IATA Designator: H2, ICAO Designator: SKU, Callsign: AEROSKY Sky Airline is the second largest airline in Chile. It operates a mainly domestic network of services to destinations within Chile, and to Buenos Aires in Argentina , to La Paz in Bolivia and to Arequipa and Lima in Peru . The airline is based at Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL), Chile's largest and busiest international airport which is located about 15 km (9.3 mi) north-west of Santiago . Avianca IATA Designator: AV, ICAO Designator: AVA, Callsign: AVIANCA Aerovias Nacionales de Colombia, S.A. - is Colombia's largest airline and the country's flag carrier. One of the world's oldest airlines operates a large network of passenger and cargo services within the country and to destinations in North, Central, and South America and to the Caribbean and to Spain. Avianca's main hub is at the El Dorado International Airport (BOG). Colombia's primary domestic and international airport is located near Bogotá, D.C.

, Colombia's capital. EasyFly IATA Designator: EF, ICAO Designator: ESY, Callsign: EASYFLY Easyfly S.A. is a Colombian low-cost carrier that operates flights to 18 cities in Colombia. Its main base is El Dorado International Airport (BOG), Bogotá. Lacsa IATA Designator: LR, ICAO Designator: LRC, Callsign: LACSA Lacsa is the national airline of Costa Rica. The airline is part of Grupo TACA and operates as TACA/Lacsa international scheduled services to destinations in Central, North and South America. Its main hub is at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), located about 20 km (13 mi) northwest of San José , Costa Rica's capital city. Nature Air IATA Designator: 5C, ICAO Designator: NRR, Callsign: NATUREAIR Nature Air (formerly Travelair) is a Costa Rican domestic airline, it operates scheduled mainly domestic services. Its base is at Tobías Bolaños International Airport (SYQ), San José's main airport for domestic flights.

AeroGal IATA Designator: 2K, ICAO Designator: GLG, Callsign: AEROGAL AeroGal is an airline based in Quito, Ecuador. It operates domestic passenger and cargo flights within the country and between the mainland and the Galápagos Islands, as well as flights from Ecuador to Bogotá , Colombia , and to New York City in the United States . The airline's main hubs are at José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport (UIO), Quito 's principal airport, and Mariscal Sucre International Airport (GYE) which serves Guayaquil , Equador's main port, its commercial center and largest city. tame IATA Designator: EQ, ICAO Designator: TAE, Callsign: TAME Línea Aérea del Ecuador. Tame is a regional carrier which operates a network of passenger and cargo services to 10 cities in Ecuador: Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca, Galápagos (Santa Cruz y San Cristóbal), Machala, Loja, Coca, Esmeraldas and Lago Agrio.

It also connects Quito with some destinations in the Carribean and it flys to Cali, Colombia three times a week.TAME's main hub is at Mariscal Sucre International Airport (GYE), Guayaquil . Air Guyane IATA Designator: 3S, ICAO Designator: GUY, Callsign: GREENBIRD Air Guyane Express operates domestic flights and under the name of Air Antilles Express regional scheduled flights to Fort-de-France , Martinique , to Pointe-à-Pitre , Guadeloupe , Saint Martin and Castries , Saint Lucia . Its main base is Cayenne-Rochambeau Airport. TACA (Grupo Taca) IATA Designator: TA, ICAO Designator: TAI, Callsign: TACA TACA is a regional airline and El Salvador's flag carrier. The group of five independent Central American airlines, whose operations are combined to serve destinations in Latin America, North America, and the most important business and tourist destinations in South America and the Caribbean. TACA's three main hubs are 1.

at Comalapa International Airport (SAL), located about 50 km (30 mi) from San Salvador , El Salvador's capital city; and 2. at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), about 20 km (12.5 mi) from San José , Costa Rica , and 3. at Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM), located 11 km (7 mi) from Lima , the capital city of Peru . IATA Designator: AM, ICAO Designator: AMX, Callsign: AEROMEXICO Aerovias de Mexico, one of Mexico's two leading airlines. IATA Designator: MX, ICAO Designator: MXA, Callsign: MEXICANA Compania Mexicana De Aviacion, the other one of Mexico's two leading airlines. Copa Airlines IATA Designator: CM, ICAO Designator: CMP, Callsign: COPA The Compania Panamena de Aviacion S.A. is Panama's leading airline and its flag carrier.

According to Copa, the airline operates scheduled passenger services to 49 destinations in 27 countries in North America, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Its main hub is at Copa Tocumen International Airport (PTY), the country's largest airport, located 24 km (15 mi) east of Panama City , Panama's capital. Latin America’s Best and Worst Airports - THE PANAMA PERSPECTIVE THE PANAMA PERSPECTIVE By Tom on August 14, 2012 in News from Panama Post Views: 89 I read an article in Latin Trade Magazine that rated the top airports in Latin America and it was no surprise that our airport in Panama was right up there in second place. By the end of 2014 when the expansion is completed, it will surely rank number 1 as this is the true hub of the Americas. Santiago continues to be the most popular airport in Latin America among Latin Trade readers. It received the top spot in comfort/ambience and shops/amenities. The airport received 10.3 million passengers in 2010, according to Airports Council International.

Panama City is right behind, though, thanks to getting most votes in customs/baggage, ease of connection and location/access. Thanks largely to efforts by Panamanian airline Copa, the airport is becoming a major hub for traffic in Latin America. Last year the airport handled 5 million passengers. That compares with only 1.3 million tourist arrivals that year, clearly showing how the airport is being used as a hub. Panama Tocumen International Airport is the primary airport of Panama, and is Central America’s busiest Airport. After Phase I of its modernization and expansion project, it completed in 2011 its Phase II project which added a new section to the passenger terminal, referred to as ‘Muelle Norte’ (North Terminal) with 12 airline gates, doubling airport capacity. Phase 2 also includes making the terminal ADA-adaptable, adding a luggage sorting system, platforms, taxiways and new road. With an expected cost of USD 400 million, this will be the largest single investment the airport has ever had. This second phase expansion will double the airport passenger handling capacity from 8 million to 16 million.

The administration of the airport wants to start construction before the year ends and expects the first building of the second phase to be finished by the first trimester of 2014. This new building will have customs and immigration facilities, which will help soften current airport bottlenecks Mexico City, Latin America’s second-largest passenger airport, moved up to third place (from 4th in our previous reader survey). It received more votes than Santiago in customs/baggage and ease of connection. The airport received 24.1 million passengers in 2010, ranking it second in passenger traffic in Latin America, according to Latin Business Chronicle. Lima improved dramatically compared with our previous reader survey, jumping from 10th to fourth place. It received the top score in comfort/ambiance and second-highest score in ease of connection. Long gone are the days when the airport was considered one of the worst in Latin America. What about Guarulhos in Sao Paulo, last year’s worst-ranked airport?

This year, it actually managed to improve its score slightly (from 2.2 to 2.3) while Caracas saw a decline (from 2.3 to 2.1), leading the latter to have the dubious honor of being ranked as Latin America’s worst airport for business travelers. Thomas H. Brymer II We invite you to visit our country and learn if Panama Real Estate is right for you. Attractive airport infrastructure deals in Latin America. Part 2 - Mexico City Airport at Texcoco | CAPA - Centre for Aviation Attractive airport infrastructure deals in Latin America. Part 2 - Mexico City Airport at Texcoco CAPA > Aviation Analysis > Attractive airport infrastructure deals in Latin America. Part 2 - Mexico City Airport at Texcoco 6-Mar-2015 Tweet © CAPA Of all the big new airport projects throughout the world ( Beijing , Chengdu , Istanbul, Sydney , Manila , Berlin etc) it is the one at Mexico City that it eliciting the greatest excitement. The international director of the Mitre Corporation, a US research organisation, referred to it as “probably the most advanced modern airport project worldwide,” pointing to its capability to handle simultaneous traffic flows off multiple runways.

More mundanely but of at least equal importance it will relieve the transport bottleneck that threatens Mexico’s economy. The history of the attempts to secure a new airport in Mexico City have been well documented by CAPA over the years, involving as they have economic uncertainty, environmental concern, political intrigue and even riots. A previous plan for a new airport in the same region was scrapped in the early 2000s following intense protests. The inertia stood in contrast to the successful privatisations of many of Mexico’s other main airports in three main groups, Mexico City’s Benito Juarez International remaining under the control of the state operator ASA. (The city’s Toluca Airport though was part-privatised).

Technically advanced multi-runway to relieve national transport bottleneck As recently as Jul-2013 Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto had made no commitment for a new Mexico City airport in announcing the country's “Programme for Investment in Transport and Communications Infrastructure 2013-2018.” What seems to have swung opinion in its favour is when the Juarez International Airport announced new slot restrictions effective Oct-2013, capping operations during peak times at 58 per hour and prioritising commercial aviation, while announcing that operations “exceeded the maximum number that can be served per hour” on “more than 52 occasions” in 2012. The management claimed this compromised competitiveness, the Mexican tourist industry, which contributes 3.4% to Mexico's GDP , and security .

Even as 2014 dawned though the Mexican government was seemingly unable to decide whether or not to build a new airport for Mexico City (probably at Texcoco in the northwest of the urban region but possibly somewhere else), somehow to squeeze even more use out of Juarez International Airport, the second busiest in Latin America and capacity constrained until the pips squeak, or to expand Toluca Airport, which, frankly, had quite a lot going for it. Expanding Juarez Airport even involved a proposal for extending the two runways and applying mixed mode operations, which is one of the remaining short-listed proposals for London Heathrow Airport , while another alternative to Texcoco was Tizayuca, outside the Mexico City boundaries. Yet another proposal called for the capital region to avail itself of all of the infrastructure in the region, including airports at Toluca, Cuernavaca , Puebla and Queretaro . Ironically, as a consequence of the final decision any, or all, of those airports might now even close. At that time the government was expected to take the lead in the project but it was known that it had attracted the interest of private sector investors such as one of the Macquarie investment funds.

Eventually, in Sep-2014 and after many false dawns, a decision was taken. It was confirmed by President Enrique Pena Nieto that a new Mexico City International Airport would be constructed adjacent to Juarez International. It would have capacity for 120 million passengers per annum and feature six runways upon completion of its second phase, quadrupling Juarez's capacity. Mr Pena Nieto noted that the airport would be one of the biggest infrastructure projects ever undertaken in Mexico. The price tag was given as MXN120 billion (USD9.1 billion). That tag has risen over the past six months to MXP169 billion (USD11.3 billion) but that might be a conservative figure. US engineering firm Parsons, which has had an involvement with the project since mid-2014 ventured that it might end up costing MXN662 billion (USD50.3 billion) in total construction, operating and maintenance costs by 2069, when the final phase is expected to be complete. In Feb-2015 IATA signed an agreement with Mexico’s Secretariat of Communications and Transportation (SCT) to support the development of the airport.

As part of the agreement IATA will provide supervision and advice on technical and operational aspects of the project as well as best-practice guidance on airspace and slot management. This is not an unusual development; IATA frequently undertakes such a role and is possibly best remembered for its impact on the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport project in 2005-6. Grupo Aeroportuario de la Ciudad de México ( Airport Group of Mexico City ) has been given the concession to build, manage and operate the new airport. The agreement is valid for 50 years from the beginning of operations. Grupo Aeroportuario de la Ciudad de México owns the existing Juarez International Airport. It is a branch of government with private financing. The government sees the value of (and need for) the private sector to play its part Project funding, most of it in the period 2014-20 will come from public and private sources in the ratio 58%:42%.

The government initially insisted it would remain in state hands upon completion, the project being financed through a combination of current cash flow and bonds and the initial construction work being financed by excess cash flows from the operation of Juarez International Airport, which will the government believed would be sufficient to cover initial costs. The issuance of 30-year bonds has also been under consideration to finance later phases of the project though specific financing programmes would be created to fund different elements of the project. With the private sector so heavily involved in Mexico (GAP, OMA , ASUR , OHL etc) it was difficult to imagine they would not be involved with this huge project as well even despite the fact it has always been the intention to operate ASA out-with the clutches of the private sector. While up to MXP33 million (USD2 million) has already been made available for 2015 from the public sector to fund initial works there is little clarity so far as to who the private sector participants are, or will be, or what the precise timescale is for them to come onboard.

However, it is understood that the publicly listed operator GAP ( Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico ), which has 12 airports, anchored on Guadalajara , is raising MXP15 million (USD1 million) in the first instance to invest in the project while ICA (Empresas ICA S.A.B de C.V), which holds a majority stake in the publicly listed Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte (OMA), will also participate having already abandoned a consortium with nine other companies to do so on its own terms. Mexican law is strict on how the private sector can participate in the first stage of this enterprise. The government’s advice for any prospective foreign investors, suppliers or construction sub-contractors is simple: network with Mexican companies and Mexican-led consortiums on the basis of technical experience and/or financial strength and devise a PR strategy that majors on transparency and public information regulation. Source: Presentation by the Central Citizen and Consumer Council. (See later for the importance of ‘transparency’).

Even so, and while by Oct-2014 30 Mexican companies such as Grupo ICA, Grupo Corso, Coconal, Gia, La Peninsular, Marhnos, Teya and Tredeco had expressed interest in bidding for the new airport tender, international contractors were expected to enter the bidding war. This is how the funding will be allocated as it comes in. Lake Texcoco draining budget required to ensure it is not a floating airport 75% goes to the fundamental airport infrastructure with 3% allocated to ‘social works,’ which could embrace anything from an environmental clean-up to noise insulation. There is a bigger budget (10%) for a separate environmental project, which is the completion of draining activities and land stabilisation of the old Lake Texcoco. Design, Engineering and Project Management accounts for the remaining 12%. Allocation of expenditure ( MXP million) Source: Mexican Federal Government Budget Spending by Year MXP Source: Mexican Federal Government So budget expenditure peaks in the period 2015-2018. Technical details of the project are as follows.

In stage 1, the existing Juarez Airport, which has two runways with non-simultaneous operations and 32 million ppa, is to be replaced with one having three 4000-5000m runways with simultaneous operations to handle 550,000 movements each year and up to 50 million passengers. Stage 1 operations will be from 2020 to 2028.

Other highlights include: A 555,000sqm single terminal building with 95 gates "enclosed within a continuous lightweight gridshell, embracing walls and roof in a single, flowing form, evocative of flight" and designed for Mexico City's “challenging” soil conditions; No internal trains or underground tunnels; Designed to be the “world's most sustainable airport” and only airport in the world certified LEED Platinum, with design works featuring rainwater collection, daylight direction and temperatures to be maintained with almost 100% outside air, leaving "little or no" need for additional heating or air conditioning; Built on a “monumental scale” with three times the span of conventional airports and a maximum internal span of 170m; No ducts or pipes in roofing allowing “environmental skin” to be revealed, terminal instead serviced from beneath.

In stage 2, a further three runways are added (there is no word yet as to whether simultaneous operations will be possible on all six) to handle one million movements each year and up to 120 million ppa, which would put this airport on par with the very biggest being built or designed presently, such as Dubai World Central , Istanbul Grand and Beijing Daxing. This stage is a protracted one, through to 2069 at current estimates, which is the longest completion date of any airport project the CAPA Construction and Cap Ex Database is currently aware of. Cargo and logistics are expected to play a central role The airport could become the largest logistics hub in Latin America with 1.2 million tonnes per annum of cargo being handled by 2030, although this would depend on logistics services developing alongside the infrastructure. Guadalajara Airport is currently the only Mexican airport with cold storage facilities and therefore the only airport with the ability to handle ‘produce’ exports in the country. The architectural project has been handed to a consortium of Norman Foster Associates and Fernando Romero, a Mexican architect with offices in Mexico City and New York.

Foster, the architect behind London Stansted Airport ’s “reinvention” of the conventional terminal in the 1990s, is reported to have said that Texcoco “breaks with that model for the first time”. The airport “pioneers a new concept for a large-span, single airport enclosure, which should achieve new levels of efficiency and flexibility… and its design provides for the most flexible enclosure possible to accommodate internal change and an increase in capacity”. This architectural project is organised in five phases. The first is the fundamental acquisition of land, 4,300 hectares (44sq km), which is in government ownership, so should in theory not be an issue. But while the existing Juarez airport is within the boundaries of Mexico City the new one, despite its proximity (5 km), is in the State of Mexico. This state of affairs also has implications for the provision of public transport links. The planning and design phase (2) involves dialogue with airlines, customs agents, commercial companies and civil engineering organisations. Phase 3 is the appointment of a Chief Engineer and Project Manager and the initiation of studies into airspace utilisation, arrival and departure routes , and runway/taxiway/apron utilisation.

Phase 4 is the preparation of an environmental impact report and Phase 5 the commencement of construction works. The Infrastructure Planning contract was won by Netherlands Airport Consultants (NACO) together with Royal HaskoningDHV and the Mexican engineering consultancies SACMAG de Mexico SA de CV and TADCO Constructora. Collectively they are responsible for the runways, taxiways, navigational aids and associated facilities. The contract was won with a bid of MXP1,252 million (USD83.6 million), based on the lowest price principle. There were four bidders. This is NACO’s second big assignment for this airport after winning the design for the airport’s passenger terminal with Foster & Partners and FR-EE in 2014. NACO will be designing three runways capable of accommodating the A380 . Airbus expects Mexico City to see an increasing number of A380 services over the next 20 years (assuming, of course, that aircraft continues in production), while both Lufthansa and Air France have expressed interest in deploying the type to the Mexican capital. A Master Plan will be prepared by the end of 1Q2015.

35 bids are expected for this part of the project as in the table below. Master Plan Source: Central Citizen and Consumer Council Transparency is critical to the success of the deal The government has allocated time and energy to assuage fears about potential corruption, clearly mindful of allegations that have been made from time to time in Latin America concerning privatisation activities in different parts of the continent. Questions have already been asked in the Mexican media about best practices in both public and private sectors and how they apply in this instance. And separately, in Nov-2014, Mexico's Federal Institute for Access to Information and Data Protection (IFAI) requested the Airport Group in Mexico City (CMAG) provide information regarding the airport project, having received a complaint from the Mexico City Government, citing the airport group was withholding information from the city about the project. The City had requested the airport group to deliver information on environmental impact measures, scheduling, stages of construction, method of recruitment as well as its overall project plan. One of the ways in which the government has tackled the subject is through the appointment by the President of a new Secretary in charge both of the regulation of bids and government procurement activities.

This ‘Minister of Public Function’ as he is known is a civil servant with in-depth knowledge of procedural transparency. Furthermore the government has agreed transparency policies with the OECD . Other public agencies and ‘Transparency Mexico,’ the agency that oversees Mexico’s 2014 transparency reforms are involved. (In 2013 Mexico scored just 34 out of 100 in Transparency International's tables). Now an antitrust agency is involved in the definition of bidding terms and design. The government is at pains to point out though that the relationship between the new airport and ‘national airlines’ (i.e. Aeromexico ) is as yet undefined. Cutbacks on other transport projects spawn lingering doubts about Texcoco The sharp drop in GDP growth in 2013-14 is a major cause of budgetary cutbacks that were announced in Jan-2015 by the government. At the moment the main casualties in the transport sector are railway projects at Queretaro (MXP40 million) and the ‘Transpeninsular’ line (MXP22 million). The government insists the airport project will proceed as planned.

However, such cutbacks may well mean that the envisaged rail connection between the downtown/central business district and the new airport is at best put on hold. It is uncertain just how important that is in a country that is so enamoured with the private motor vehicle and the bus. Concern is being shown in the government however with regard to the negative effects of the new airport on others at Toluca, Cuernavaca, Puebla, and Queretaro. Traffic is expected to diminish considerably at these facilities, putting at risk the infrastructures and the stakeholders alike. The new airport's construction is reported to be supported by a majority of the capital's population, and the greatest preference for the future of the current Juarez Airport site is for it to become an ecological green space, according to surveys. Its use as a convention centre or national tourism centre is also possible though the examples of Berlin Templehof and Athens Hellinikon airports suggest that parks and green spaces do often win out in these cases. Rising costs, declining public revenues and environmental issues are all lingering issues Mindful of the claim that the airport will proceed “as planned” there are still a number of factors that could yet affect it adversely.

Two of them are rising costs and falling revenues. Already the price tag is more than double the MXP80 billion (USD6 billion) estimate by the Secretary of Transport and Communications, Gerardo Ruiz Esparza, only a year ago. See related report: Aviation and oil prices: potentially a negative for airport capital expenditure. Time for PPPs? Mexico, the world’s 10th largest oil producer, is one of many countries where cutbacks in state infrastructure spending may have to made if there is a consistent reduction in oil prices over a protracted period of time. There is plenty of fiscal ammunition for remaining opponents of the airport to use. Secondly, and in common with so many other new airport undertakings around the world, there are environmental issues to contend with, despite the insistence it will be the world’s ‘most sustainable airport’. In Apr-2014 the National Water Commission (Conagua) expressed opposition to the prospect of expanding Juarez International Airport on federal lands east of the facility over Lake Texcoco, due to the risk of “catastrophic flooding” which could “jeopardise the safety of airport users” as the region is constitutionally designated as a flood zone.

It was this issue specifically that prompted the suggestion of Tizayuca, in neighbouring Hidalgo State, as an alternative and more suitable alternative for environmental reasons. The allocation of 10% of initial financing to hydraulic works recognises the potential impact of this environmental issue. Moreover, the same organisation has warned that an airport at Texcoco would be “ecological suicide and a threat to urban development,” citing a 1995 study by the National Autonomous University of Mexico which said construction on the site would have “significantly adverse” environmental impacts and would threaten 120 native bird species with extinction. The government response was to promise that the airport will “contribute to the restoration of the surrounding area via rehabilitation of surrounding lands and construction of lagoons that will harvest rain water to avoid flooding”. Six man-made lakes will also be constructed.

Airline prospects good in the long run As for the country’s airlines, and demand for them, prospects are generally positive despite the bankruptcy of Mexicana de Aviacion and the poor performance last year of Grupo Aeromexico , which made both operating and net profits in FY2014 but experienced declines of -30% and -27.5% respectively as increased costs outstripped revenues. (That should change for the better if the oil price continues to be low). Aeromexico remains bullish about prospects, having ordered more than 100 aircraft including B737 MAX 8s and B787 -9s just over two years ago. As of 16-Feb-2015 Aeromexico has 66 aircraft in service and 71 on order according to the CAPA fleet database. The delivery schedule is outlined below. Aeromexico projected delivery dates for aircraft hulls on order purchased from OEMs and leased from lessors’ new aircraft order pipelines as at 16-Feb-2015 Source: CAPA Fleet Database Aircraft operated by subsidiaries/associates of the main carrier may be listed separately.

Firm orders include those placed directly by the operator and by lessors assigned to the operator, from 16-Feb-2015 onwards. Aeromexico’s competitors are all LCCs and some of those, too, have substantial aircraft orders, such as Volaris , which has 46 A320s on order, and Viva Aerobus , which has 52 of the same type on order, more than double its present fleet size, both these airlines reviving after two tough years Airbus judges that Mexico will require 634 new aircraft over the next 20 years to meet demand which is expected to grow by 4.9% per annum and that it will become the main destination in Latin America after Brazil . The increase in demand will be driven by a growing middle class that will increase consumer and tourism spending. However, congestion and lack of adequate airport infrastructure may hold it back. The new Mexico City airport will help counter concern over infrastructure. In 2014 international passenger air traffic rose by 6.1%. That statistic was skewed at either end by a 13% rise in the Middle East but just 3.1% in North America .

Latin America’s growth rate was 5.8%, the same as Asia’s and 1.1 percentage points above capacity growth in the region while average load factor topped 80%. It can be expected that, allowing for replacement and retirement, the total national fleet should reach over 350 within the next ten years. This represents the considerable and growing optimism within the industry for the next few years. Indeed if air travel in Mexico were to reach global average for an economy of the size of Mexico the number of trips per capita could rise by a factor of nearly four. So airline prospects are good both regionally and locally. Any potential investor considering the merits of the Mexico City airport will take into account the performance of the Juarez airport.

Selecting the same criteria as those used for Santiago, they are: Source: CAPA - Centre for Aviation and OAG Mexico City Juarez International Airport capacity seats, per week, by carrier (16-Feb-2015 to 22-Feb-2015) Source: CAPA - Centre for Aviation and OAG Mexico City Juarez International Airport international capacity, seats by region (16-Feb-2015 to 22-Feb-2015) Source: CAPA - Centre for Aviation and OAG Mexico City Juarez International Airport capacity seats share by carrier type (16-Feb-2015 to 22-Feb-2015) Source: CAPA - Centre for Aviation and OAG Mexico City Juarez International Airport capacity seats share by alliance (16-Feb-2015 to 22-Feb-2015) Source: CAPA - Centre for Aviation and OAG Mexico City Juarez International Airport movements by hour for typical day (Monday) (16-Feb-2015 to 22-Feb-2015) Source: CAPA - Centre for Aviation and OAG Comparing these charts with those of Santiago Airport the following observations

 may be made: Lesser degree of dominance by any one carrier; carrier type; or alliance at Juarez Airport (a better mix) A stable balance of aircraft movements per hour between 0600 and 2359.

Some potential for development of night flights, regulations permitting In conclusion: The economic importance of Chile is growing rapidly both regionally and throughout the world; Mexico continues to benefit from membership of NAFTA and, latterly, other trade groups; Both countries are attractive infrastructure investment prospects; Santiago’s airport has many advantages for its operators but AdP , Vinci and Astaldi have collectively paid a high price to gain access to it; The new Mexico City airport has met with violent protests in the past. There is a calmer acceptance of its inevitability now but some important cost, funding and environmental questions still remain. Want more analysis like this? CAPA Membership gives you access to all news and analysis on the site, along with access to many areas of our comprehensive databases and toolsets. CH2M HILL partners with Parsons on Mexico City’s new airport, biggest infrastructure project in Latin America | CH2M Innovation CH2M HILL partners with Parsons on Mexico City’s new airport, biggest infrastructure project in Latin America Submitted by CH2M on 16th Mar 2015.

CH2M HILL partners with Parsons on Mexico City’s new airport, biggest infrastructure project in Latin America With Parsons as prime consultant, CH2M HILL—a global full-service consulting, design, construction and operations firm—is proud to announce that it has been selected by the Government of Mexico as a major member of the Program Management team (Parsons, CH2M HILL and the local firm of FOA Consultores) to complete Mexico City’s new airport at a greenfield site in Texcoco, Mexico. “CH2M HILL is honored to partner with Parsons and FOA Consultores on what is perhaps the largest greenfield airport of our generation to be built in Latin America,” stated CH2M HILL’s Transportation President Terry Ruhl. “The New International Airport for Mexico City will be the gateway to Latin America, competing with the best airports in Asia, the Middle East and around the world.” The first phase of Nuevo Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México (New International Airport for Mexico City) will have three runways and will be able to handle simultaneous operations with a capacity of 50 million annual passengers. Subsequent phases will add three more runways and will ultimately handle 120 million annual passengers.

“Parsons and its team is honored to have been selected to support the Ministry of Communications and Transport and the country of Mexico in bringing to fruition a program that will create a world-class airport that serves as Mexico’s gateway to the world—and dramatically improves the current limitations for travel as well as promotes economic growth and job creation,” said Todd Wager, Parsons Group President. The scope of work consists of: Program/Project Management Construction Management (Planning & Program Level) Contract Management Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer Existing Airport and Project Closure In addition to the airport work, the program management team will manage the design and development of access roads, utilities, hydrologic/hydraulic, environmental issues and the airport city. The new airport will help to solve the air transport needs of Mexico City, provide a global gateway to support Mexico’s status as a top trading nation and generate jobs to further accelerate economic growth.

Article options Aeromexico, The Airline Serving The Largest Number Of Cities From A Hub In Latin America svenska Aeromexico, The Airline Serving The Largest Number Of Cities From A Hub In Latin America -- Aeromexico has become the leader in the number of routes served from a hub in Latin America, with the 79 destinations the airline serves from its primary hub in Mexico City -- The carrier secured this leadership position thanks to its latest current domestic and international routes, plus the new destinations coming soon Oct 12, 2015, 18:27 ET from Aeromexico English Pinterest Aeromexico Logo MEXICO CITY, Oct. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Aeromexico, Mexico's global airline, has become the airline serving the largest number of routes from a hub in Latin America, according to OAG Schedules Analysers, the world's leading provider of aviation industry tools analysts need to identify trends, spot commercial opportunities and monitor competitor activity.

With service to 79 destinations from its Mexico City hub, Aeromexico now ranks above other major airlines worldwide, thanks to the recent addition of nine domestic and international destinations from Mexico City, including Medellin in Colombia, Panama City, Toronto in Canada and Boston, Sacramento and Ontario in the United States. This growth also includes Aeromexico's new service to Querétaro and Cozumel added in October, and Vancouver, which the carrier will begin to serve next December, to close the year with 80 destinations in its route network. Aeromexico thus confirms its commitment to providing more and better network connectivity from Mexico City, consolidating its global leadership by offering connections to more than 80 domestic and international destinations including 46 cities in Mexico, 16 in the United States, 15 in Latin America, three in Canada, three in Europe and two in Asia. About Grupo Aeromexico Grupo Aeromexico, S.A.B. de C.V. is a holding company whose subsidiaries provide commercial aviation services in Mexico and promote passenger loyalty programs.

Aeromexico, Mexico's global airline, operates more than 600 daily flights from its main hub in Terminal 2 at the Mexico City International Airport. Its route network includes 80 cities on three continents including 46 cities in Mexico, 16 in the United States, 15 in Latin America, three in Canada, three in Europe and two in Asia. The Group's fleet of more than 130 aircraft is comprised of Boeing 787, 777, 767 and 737 jet airliners and next generation Embraer 145, 170, 175 and 190 models. In 2012, the airline announced the most significant investment strategy in aviation history in Mexico, to purchase 100 Boeing aircraft including 90 MAX 737 airliners and ten 787-9 Dreamliners.

As a founding member of the SkyTeam airline alliance, Aeromexico offers customers more than 1,000 destinations in 178 countries served by the 20 SkyTeam airline partners rewarding passengers with benefits including access to 516 premium airport lounges around the world. Aeromexico also offers travel options through its code share partners Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, Avianca, LAN, TACA and TAM with extensive connectivity in countries like the United States, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia and Peru.

Question: Which city’s airport is the largest in Latin America?
Answer: Mexico City