Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, July 15, 2026 – Puerto Vallarta’s second airport terminal could be completed between late 2026 and early 2027, Mayor Luis Ernesto Munguía González said, but the airport operator has not announced a firm date when the entire building will open.
His estimate is broadly consistent with the latest construction schedule released by Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, known as GAP, although the two statements do not describe the same milestone.
GAP said in a recent corporate update that the terminal was 66 percent complete and that its first six contact gates were expected to enter service in December 2026, ahead of the winter travel season. The operator did not say the full terminal would open that month.
A December launch involving six gates would represent the beginning of passenger operations, while the remaining areas could continue through equipment installation, testing, certification and airline transition work. A complete inauguration could follow later, making the mayor’s early 2027 estimate plausible without confirming a deadline.
Recent progress figures have also varied. PVDN reported in May that airport officials placed the project at 71 percent completion, with civil construction expected to finish before the end of 2026. GAP’s more recent corporate post used a 66 percent figure. The company did not explain whether the two percentages measured different parts of the project or reflected separate reporting methods.
Once completed, Terminal 2 is expected to add eight contact gates and four remote aircraft positions. GAP says the expansion will bring the airport to 19 contact positions and 13 remote stands, giving airlines more room during winter Saturdays and other periods when international arrivals and departures are concentrated within a narrow part of the day.
The project represents an investment of about US$535 million and covers more than 119,000 square meters, according to GAP. The terminal is being built toward LEED Gold standards and includes solar panels, rainwater collection systems and high-efficiency glass.
The project has been moving toward a staged opening rather than a single switch from the existing terminal. When PVDN reported that construction had reached 54 percent in August 2025, airport officials were already discussing a gradual move into the new building during 2026.
GAP has not publicly identified which airlines, routes or passenger services will move first. Its latest update also did not explain how domestic and international operations will be divided between the two terminals, or when immigration, baggage and security systems across the new building will be fully active.
Those details will determine when passengers notice a meaningful change inside the airport. Six additional contact gates could reduce reliance on remote stands and bus transfers, but the broader effect on check-in lines, baggage delivery and arrival processing will depend on how much of the terminal is operating at each stage.
The next milestone is December 2026. Until GAP publishes a complete activation schedule, the mayor’s early 2027 estimate should be treated as a reasonable window rather than an official opening date.
