Guadalajara, Mexico – In a landmark development for national air connectivity, Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP) has inaugurated the second runway at Guadalajara International Airport, alongside other significant expansion and modernization projects. With a substantial investment of 15.9 billion pesos, these enhancements are set to position Jalisco as a pivotal hub for air travel in Mexico.
The new runway, measuring 3,538 meters in length and 45 meters in width, will immediately boost the airport’s landing and takeoff capacity by 50%, with a potential increase of up to 70% in the long term. GAP’s General Director, Raúl Revuelta Musalem, emphasized the strategic importance of this project. “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,” stated Revuelta.
By the end of 2024, the Guadalajara airport is projected to handle 18.5 million passengers, and with the upcoming FIFA World Cup in 2026, the figure is expected to rise to 23 million. These improvements come at a crucial time as Guadalajara prepares to host one of the world’s most prestigious sporting events.
In a recent interview following the inauguration, which saw a Volaris flight to Cancun as the first to use the new runway, Revuelta revealed that GAP will soon announce its investment plan for the 2025-2029 period. This plan is anticipated to surpass the current five-year investment, with significant projects including 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,” he explained.
Laura Diez Barroso Azcárraga, President of the GAP Board of Directors, highlighted the substantial investments made during the 2020-2024 period despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. “In this five-year period, the airport group invested almost 16,000 million pesos, which represents the largest investment in the history of the Guadalajara airport,” she noted.
Guadalajara International Airport is currently the third-largest airport in Mexico in terms of passenger and cargo operations. The expansion will significantly enhance its capacity, facilitating better air traffic management and expanding international connectivity. “This will increase landing and takeoff capacity by 50 to 70% in the long term, improving air traffic and expanding international connectivity, positioning Guadalajara as a key point on the global aeronautical map,” added Diez Barroso Azcárraga.
The airport’s modernization includes the inauguration of 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 expansion of 11,704 square meters to the current terminal building. Additionally, the parking facility has increased its capacity by 90%, now offering 4,000 spaces, with a future expansion planned to accommodate up to 10,000 vehicles.
Governor Enrique Alfaro Ramírez praised the developments, stating, “Jalisco has an even more solid growth perspective. These works at the airport will also allow us, of course, to bring Jalisco closer to the world for any purpose.”
The Guadalajara airport currently operates 1,079 weekly departures, with ten airlines providing flights to 60 national and international destinations. Miguel Enrique Vallin Osuna, Director of the Federal Civil Aviation Agency, emphasized the economic significance of the airline industry, which accounted for 2.1% of Mexico’s GDP in 2022 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. “Without a doubt, this additional infrastructure promotes a sustained economy, facilitating regional development and global connectivity.”
The inauguration of the second runway and associated projects at Guadalajara International Airport marks a significant milestone in Mexico’s aviation industry, heralding a new era of enhanced capacity and connectivity for the region.
