Regional Airports Gain Altitude as Airlines Seek Growth Beyond Mexico City

Mexican regional airports are experiencing a surge in passenger traffic as airlines actively develop new routes, seeking growth opportunities beyond the capacity-constrained Mexico City International Airport (AICM).

During June, while AICM saw a 2.1% decrease in passenger numbers, airports such as Durango and San Luis Potosí recorded impressive 27% increases. Acapulco and Tampico followed with 20% growth, alongside significant gains in Tepic (18%), Querétaro (16%), Puerto Escondido (15%), and Zacatecas (13.5%), according to data from the Federal Civil Aviation Agency.

Independent air sector analyst Fabricio Cojuc notes that regional airports represent a key area for developing new routes. He observes that airlines like Volaris are prioritizing interconnections between medium-sized cities rather than solely focusing on expansion from AICM. This strategy is driving double-digit growth in these regional hubs, with Volaris notably expanding its domestic footprint by adding services on underserved or previously unserved routes.

This shift is leading to a more decentralized route network across Mexico. For instance, Volaris launched a new Durango-Querétaro route and now flies from San Luis Potosí to Monterrey, Chicago, Puebla, and Puerto Vallarta. Aerus has also introduced a seasonal Durango-Monterrey route. The airport in Tepic recently underwent a significant investment, expanding its runway to accommodate international flights from the U.S. and Canada, with projections to serve 4 million passengers annually.

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These airports have double-digit growth. Volaris is expanding its domestic footprint by adding services on routes that are sub-served or have never been served, while the more mature ones like AICM, Cancun, Guadalajara and Monterrey have more operational restrictions.