The political tug-of-war behind Mexico's newest international airport

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Once a military base, Felipe Ángeles International Airport rose from the ashes of a cancelled mega-project. Its creation was fueled by a controversial referendum and a fierce ideological clash, transforming a site of historical military significance into a massive hub for cargo and passengers alike.

The development of Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) is inseparable from Mexico's intense political discourse. For years, the congestion at Mexico City International Airport has been a central political issue. In 2002, President Vicente Fox proposed a massive 5,000-hectare airport in Atenco and Texcoco, but violent clashes with the Community Front in Defense of Land (FPDT) led to its cancellation. In 2014, President Peña Nieto attempted to revive the Texcoco project, but candidate López Obrador campaigned against it, promising to reassess it if elected.

Upon taking office, López Obrador initiated an informal referendum in October 2018. While criticized for lacking official legal validity, the survey saw 69.95% of participants vote for the Santa Lucía expansion over the Texcoco project. The AIFA was created after the Santa Lucía Air Force Base, founded in 1952, was repurposed for civilian use. Construction officially began on 17 October 2019, following the lifting of several judicial suspensions related to environmental and transparency concerns.

Today, the airport is a significant economic player. It serves as Mexico's largest air cargo hub, handling 406,192.74 tons of cargo in 2025. Ranking as the nation's 7th most active airport, it handled 7,079,040 travellers in 2025, rising 11.5% over the prior year. Beyond its economic role, the project remains a symbol of the ideological divide in Mexico regarding governance and the military's role in civilian infrastructure.

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