AIQ Seeks to Attract the “New Space Industry”

Querétaro International Airport (AIQ) is looking toward the future, not only in terms of manufacturing but also through the development of new opportunities in the space sector, said Jorge Gutiérrez de Velasco Rodríguez, CEO of AIQ.

The airport is home to an aerospace manufacturing cluster, evidenced by its rapid growth and the steady presence of companies that have established operations there.

In an interview with A21, the executive said the aerospace sector is setting an example for other industries through a new wave known as the “New Space Industry.” This emerging sector not only focuses on manufacturing satellites, rockets, and launch vehicles, but also on exploring how humans could live and operate in space.

“To do that, we need to conduct research in chemistry, physics, and new materials. How will humans, wearing clothing, withstand exposure to electromagnetic radiation and sunlight? How will the human body respond to gravity that differs from that on Earth?” he said.

Gutiérrez de Velasco Rodríguez explained that this type of research requires facilities where new materials can be developed and tested, potentially opening the door to testing products in space.

As part of this strategy, AIQ is seeking certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to operate as a spaceport. The initiative is intended to attract companies from the sector to Querétaro and Mexico.

The AIQ CEO noted that spaceports already operate in other parts of the world, including Ellington Spaceport in Houston, Texas, which is authorized by the FAA.

He acknowledged that obtaining such certification would not be easy, but said AIQ already has an important advantage: an established aerospace industry that provides a foundation for developing the emerging space sector.

The airport is currently conducting a feasibility analysis to determine how it can comply with FAA standards, as well as regulations established by Mexico’s Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC).