Mexico City International Airport (MEX), officially the Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez, is Mexico's primary airport and one of the busiest in Latin America. Located within the urban area of Mexico City, MEX serves as the hub for Aeroméxico and handles extensive domestic Mexican traffic alongside international routes to the United States, Europe, and Latin America.
Mexico City International Airport (MEX), officially named after President Benito Juárez, is located within the urban area of Mexico City — one of the world's largest metropolitan areas. The airport sits at an elevation of approximately 2,230 meters (7,316 feet) above sea level, making it one of the highest-altitude major commercial airports in the world. This altitude affects aircraft performance, particularly for takeoff and fuel load calculations.
MEX operates two main terminals. Terminal 1 is the larger and older facility handling most international and domestic operations, while Terminal 2 is a more modern building connected to Terminal 1 by an elevated connecting walkway and automated transit system.
The airport serves as the primary hub for Aeroméxico and a base for a range of Mexican domestic carriers and international airlines. Mexico City's role as a major commercial, cultural, and governmental center makes MEX essential to the country's national and international connectivity.
Mexico City International Airport has operated on its current site since 1952, replacing an earlier facility. Over the following decades, the airport was steadily expanded to meet the demands of Mexico's growing economy and population. Terminal 2 opened in 2007, adding significant modern capacity to what had been an increasingly constrained single-terminal facility.
Despite these upgrades, MEX has long operated near or above its design capacity, prompting planning for an alternative facility. The Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU), located north of Mexico City near the Santa Lucía Air Force Base, opened in 2022 and serves as a complementary facility to relieve MEX.
A larger, purpose-built replacement airport (the Texcoco project, later cancelled) was a major point of controversy in Mexican aviation policy. MEX continues to serve as the primary airport for Mexico City despite ongoing capacity challenges.
Mexico City International Airport operates two terminals:
The two terminals share airside infrastructure but have separate check-in and security areas on the landside. Transfers between terminals require awareness of which terminal your departure is assigned to.
Aeroméxico operates its primary hub at MEX, offering an extensive domestic network across Mexico alongside international routes to the United States, Canada, Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Aeroméxico's SkyTeam alliance membership provides connecting opportunities through CDG, AMS, and other SkyTeam hubs.
Other airlines at MEX include American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Iberia, Air France, British Airways, KLM, and a broad range of Latin American carriers including LATAM, Copa Airlines, and Avianca.
MEX serves well over 100 destinations domestically and internationally, reflecting Mexico's large domestic market and significant two-way traffic with the United States.
Mexico City International Airport offers a range of passenger facilities across both terminals. Duty-free shopping, dining, and retail options are available throughout the airport. Aeroméxico's Salón Premier lounge and several contract lounges serve premium passengers in both terminals.
Dining options include Mexican cuisine, international fast food, and sit-down restaurants. Currency exchange and ATMs are available throughout the terminals. Wi-Fi is available. Medical facilities and left-luggage services are on site.
Mexico City International Airport is located within the urban area of Mexico City and is accessible by several transport options:
MEX offers parking facilities adjacent to both terminals, with short-stay and long-stay options available. Given the airport's urban location, parking can become congested during peak periods.
Pre-booking of parking is available through official airport channels. Valet parking is available at Terminal 2.
Mexico City's high altitude (approximately 2,230 meters / 7,316 feet) means aircraft may have reduced performance on takeoff, which can affect fuel loads and range on some routes. This is particularly relevant for passengers on ultra-long-haul flights, which may have payload restrictions.
Security procedures at MEX can be lengthy during peak hours. Arrive at least 2.5–3 hours before international departures and at least 2 hours before domestic flights. Immigration queues for arriving international passengers can also be substantial.
For transport to the city, official airport taxis are strongly recommended for safety. The metro is affordable but can be very crowded and is not recommended for passengers with large luggage during peak commuting hours.
Mexico City International Airport is central to Mexico's economy, facilitating business travel, tourism, cargo, and the movement of remittance travelers between Mexico and the United States. MEX handles the majority of Mexico's international air traffic and is a critical link between Mexico City — the country's economic, political, and cultural capital — and the rest of the world.
The airport's proximity to Mexico's largest city and the headquarters of most major Mexican corporations makes it essential for international business connectivity. The US-Mexico corridor is one of the busiest international aviation markets in the world, with MEX serving as the Mexican hub for this traffic.
Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU), which opened in 2022 north of Mexico City, is intended to provide significant additional capacity for the metropolitan area and relieve congestion at MEX. The long-term distribution of traffic between MEX and NLU continues to evolve as NLU builds its route network.
MEX itself continues to operate at or near capacity and is undertaking infrastructure maintenance and passenger experience improvements within its existing footprint. The airport's urban location limits the scope for major physical expansion.
Mexico City International Airport is Latin America's most important aviation hub and Mexico's primary gateway for both domestic and international travel. Its role is anchored by Aeroméxico's domestic and international network and by the enormous two-way traffic flow between Mexico and the United States.
MEX serves as the central connecting point for Mexico's vast domestic network — with services to cities across all 31 states — and as the primary international gateway for Mexico City's enormous population. The airport's position at the heart of one of the world's largest metropolitan areas gives it traffic volumes that few airports in Latin America can match.
Within the Mexico City airport system, MEX handles the majority of established international and domestic traffic, while Felipe Ángeles International (NLU) is developing as a complementary option for passengers in the northern metropolitan area.
In practical terms, MEX can be understood as:
Airports within approximately 60 miles of Mexico City International Airport that may provide additional scheduled commercial, regional access.
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Aeroméxico is the primary carrier. Other major airlines include American, United, Delta, Iberia, Air France, British Airways, KLM, and many Latin American carriers including LATAM, Copa, and Avianca.
The Mexico City Metro Line 5 (Aeropuerto Terminal Aérea station) provides affordable access to the city's metro network. Official airport taxis are available from fixed-price booths inside the terminal and are recommended for safety and convenience.
Mexico City is situated on a high plateau at approximately 2,230 meters (7,316 feet) above sea level. This altitude affects aircraft performance and can result in payload restrictions or additional fuel stops on some ultra-long-haul routes.
MEX (Mexico City International Airport) is the established primary airport in the urban area of Mexico City. NLU (Felipe Ángeles International Airport) opened in 2022 north of the city and serves as a complementary airport to reduce congestion at MEX, with a growing but still more limited route network.