The rare airport where you can walk across an international border

Countries & Cities · Published 14 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Most international travel requires navigating complex customs and immigration checkpoints. However, Tijuana International Airport features a unique binational design, allowing passengers to step off a pedestrian bridge from the United States directly into a Mexican terminal, effectively bypassing traditional border crossings.

Located just 5 km northeast of downtown Tijuana, the airport serves a massive metropolitan area of five million people. Its most distinctive feature is the Cross Border Xpress (CBX), a pedestrian bridge opened on December 9, 2015. This facility connects the Mexican terminal to a dedicated terminal in San Diego, allowing travelers to move between the two nations via a single, streamlined corridor.

The airport's history is marked by significant structural and political shifts. Originally inaugurated on May 1, 1951, as the Aeropuerto Federal de Tijuana, the facility has undergone several transformations. In 1965, it became part of the government-owned Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares (ASA). Following the 1995 'Ley de Aeropuertos', the airport moved toward privatization, eventually joining the Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico in 1999.

The airport's geography has even forced changes to its flight paths. In the mid-20th century, the runway was oriented 10/28, placing its northern end less than 100 metres from the U.S. border wall. This caused departing planes to enter American airspace. Due to political pressure regarding narcotics interdiction during 'Operation Intercept' in 1969, the runway was reoriented to 09/27. This change, while necessary, created new challenges, such as steeper approach angles over the 792-metre high Cerro San Isidro.

Currently, the airport serves as a key regional hub, occupying fifth place in Mexico regarding aircraft operations and passenger volume. In 2025, it handled an estimated 12,650,000 passengers, with over 4 million of those arriving via the CBX terminal. While it serves as a domestic gateway for 37 destinations, it remains a vital link for international connections, including recent restorations of service to cities like Beijing.

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