GAP Expands Guadalajara Airport With New Terminal

Guadalajara International Airport's new Terminal 2 (T2) is scheduled to begin operations in early 2029. The project, which is currently 10% complete, is expected to double the airport's passenger capacity to more than 40 million travelers annually, placing it among Mexico's largest airport facilities.

The expansion is part of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico's (GAP) 2025–2029 Master Development Plan (PMD), which includes investments of approximately US$1.2 billion to upgrade airport infrastructure, build new access roads, and acquire land for future development.

"The Master Development Plans for 2020–2024 and the current 2025–2029 plan have been aimed at doubling Guadalajara Airport's capacity. Essentially, what we will see is a project that will culminate in 2029 with the doubling of the airport's various facilities. In other words, we will have built a complete airport alongside the one that is already in operation," explained Raúl Revuelta Musalem, CEO of GAP.

The executive emphasized that the expansion goes beyond the construction of a second terminal, as it involves essentially duplicating the infrastructure required for airport operations.

"We will have a second runway, which is already operational, another terminal, another road system, and another fire station. We have also acquired land for future expansion. Basically, by 2029, we will have doubled the airport's capacity by building a new airport alongside the existing Guadalajara facility," he said.

According to Revuelta Musalem, the new infrastructure will enable the airport to handle more than 40 million passengers annually.

Terminal 2 will have a total floor area of 109,000 square meters, compared with the 81,000 square meters of the existing Terminal 1.

The project was designed by Spanish architect Carlos Lamela, who specializes in airport infrastructure.

Martín Pablo Zazueta, GAP's director of Airports and Regulated Businesses, explained that the new terminal will incorporate technology into its operational and security processes while increasing the airport's aircraft handling capacity.

During its first phase, Terminal 2 will feature seven contact gates, four walk-boarding gates, and eight remote gates, bringing the total to 19 commercial aircraft gates. It will also have four additional gates dedicated to air cargo operations.

The expansion will also include a new access road to the airport, providing an alternative to the Guadalajara–Chapala highway, which currently serves as its main access route.