Although the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) grew moderately in 2025, air connectivity in central Mexico shrank, impacted by U.S. sanctions, restricted operations and ongoing renovations at Mexico City’s main airport.
Combined, the Mexico City International Airport (AICM) and the AIFA handled 51.7 million passengers last year, representing a 0.04% decrease compared to 2024, even as air traffic increased by 2.6% nationally, with 191.2 million passengers served.
“Undoubtedly, last year was challenging for the aviation sector in central Mexico, but this didn’t stop airlines from investing in opening new routes at other airports,” an official with the Federal Civil Aviation Agency told El Economista newspaper.
Key factors contributing to the decline in central Mexico cited by El Economista include: the extended engine overhauls for Viva and Volaris aircraft; the U.S. government’s October decision to revoke approval of new flights; and the restrictions on hourly operations and ongoing renovations at the AICM.
Whereas AIFA passengers increased by 11.5% to 7.1 million last year, the AICM saw air traffic fall 1.7% to 44.6 million people. This represents the second consecutive decline at the country’s busiest airport after it experienced a 6.2% decrease in 2024.
The AICM served 753,685 fewer passengers in 2025 compared to the previous year, while the AIFA saw 730,989 more passengers last year than in 2024.
El Economista termed the results a disappointment for the government, which has been determined to promote AIFA as a transportation alternative to the saturaed AICM.
Government officials are confident the downturn at the AICM will be reversed this year as the 2026 World Cup is scheduled to begin in Mexico City in June and the U.S. government is expected to lift the restrictions on new flights soon.
Additionally, the first stage of remodeling at the AICM is nearing completion, allowing operations to increase from 44 operations per hour to at least 48.
With reports from El Economista, Quadratín EMX and Polemón
