Puerto Vallarta Airport Expansion Halted Due to Lack of Construction License

PUERTO VALLARTA - The Urban Development and Environment Directorate of the Puerto Vallarta City Council has announced the cessation of the international airport's expansion operations. The suspension follows the discovery that the developers have not submitted the complete project, thus lacking the necessary municipal construction license.

Adriana Guzman Jimenez, head of the agency, confirmed, “The closure was executed today, following a warning issued on Monday. We've been urging them for months to provide the necessary documentation and refrain from continuing the expansion until they secure the requisite urban development and environmental permits. However, they have failed to produce the complete project, leading us to this decision."

Last August, Enrique Alfaro, the governor of Jalisco, in collaboration with the Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP), inaugurated the beginning of the construction. While they have had discussions with the municipal administration since then, they've only furnished image booklets and not the comprehensive project details.

Furthermore, the GAP did not provide the mandatory Environmental Impact Statement (MIA) for the construction, claiming exemption. Guzmán Jiménez elucidated, "According to the regulations, they were obligated to submit their MIA. They claim to be exempt from this requirement, but they have not fulfilled all the criteria needed to justify such an exemption."

The environmental implications of the expansion are also under scrutiny. The Subdirección de Medio Ambiente has demanded a mitigation strategy owing to the potential harm to local flora and fauna. Given that the construction site is an estuary region housing mangroves – a vital ecosystem protected by federal laws – the need for such precautions is paramount.

While works remain suspended awaiting the construction license, CPS News and Tribuna de Bahía observed only vehicle movement on-site. The delay underscores the importance of adhering to municipal and environmental regulations, especially in areas of ecological significance.