The AICM aims to live up to its 46 new slots

Mexico City International Airport has yet to demonstrate that it can handle the 46 slots authorized by the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) this year.

However, in the future, the AICM hopes to increase these slots per hour. “First, we’re going to meet the 46-slot target, ensure we’re prepared to handle those 46 slots and the 2 million passengers they would represent, before we can even consider additional capacity,” said Admiral Juan José Padilla Olmos, the terminal’s general director.

He emphasized that in order to secure more slots—once the 46 have been successfully implemented at the AICM—capacity studies will need to be conducted, taking into account airport infrastructure, navigation equipment, and other factors.

The Spanish consulting firm ALG is currently advising Mexico City’s terminals, which are in the process of increasing their slots.

The CEO of the AICM stated that the process for determining which airlines will receive the slots—due to the increase from 44 to 46—will be decided by the AFAC and the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SCIT), and the terminal will need to stay abreast of the results.

Meanwhile, Aeromexico revealed that last July it would have received 10 pairs of slots for the winter season, due to the increase granted to the terminal. Similarly, it is reported that remodeling work continues at the AICM airport, which is currently in Phase 2, focusing on drainage work to prevent flooding, such as the flooding that occurred last year and brought operations to a halt.