International airport serving Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla Guadalajara International Airport
Aeropuerto Internacional de Guadalajara Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla
|
---|
|
|
|
Airport type
| Public
|
---|
Operator
| Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico
|
---|
Serves
| Guadalajara
,
Jalisco
,
Mexico
|
---|
Location
| Tlajomulco de Zuniga
,
Jalisco
|
---|
Opened
| March 1, 1951
; 73 years ago
(
1951-03-01
)
|
---|
Focus city
for
| Aeromexico
|
---|
Operating base for
| |
---|
Time zone
| CST
(
UTC-06:00
)
|
---|
Elevation
AMSL
| 1,529 m / 5,016 ft
|
---|
Coordinates
| 20°31′18″N
103°18′40″W
/
20.52167°N 103.31111°W
/
20.52167; -103.31111
|
---|
Website
| www
.aeropuertosgap
.com
.mx
/en
/guadalajara-3
.html
|
---|
|
Guadalajara airport diagram
|
Location of airport in Jalisco
Show map of Jalisco
GDL (Mexico)
Show map of Mexico
|
|
Direction
|
Length
|
Surface
|
m
|
ft
|
11R/29L
|
4,000
|
13,123
|
Asphalt
|
11L/29R (under construction)
|
3,538
|
11,608
|
Asphalt
|
02/20
|
1,818
|
5,964
|
Asphalt
|
|
|
Total passengers
| 17,710,200
|
---|
Ranking in Mexico
| 3rd
|
---|
|
Source: Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico
[1]
|
Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla Guadalajara International Airport
(
IATA
:
GDL
,
ICAO
:
MMGL
), simply known as
Guadalajara International Airport
, is the primary
international airport
serving
Guadalajara
,
Jalisco
, the
third-largest city in Mexico
. It facilitates flights to and from destinations across Mexico,
the Americas
, and
Europe
.
[2]
It is the largest hub for
Volaris
, functioning as the airline's primary gateway to the
United States
.
[3]
Additionally, it serves as a hub for
Aeromexico
and
Viva Aerobus
. Operated by
Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico
(GAP), the airport is named after
Miguel Hidalgo
, a prominent leader in the
Mexican War of Independence
.
The airport is the
second-busiest
in Mexico for cargo flights, providing cargo services to countries in the Americas,
Asia
, and
Europe
. Additionally, the airport supports various tourism initiatives, flight training programs, and
general aviation
activities. In terms of passenger traffic, Guadalajara Airport ranks as the third busiest in Mexico, following
Mexico City
and
Cancun
. Furthermore, it stands as the
ninth busiest in Latin America
and the
44th busiest in North America
. It handled 15,606,600 passengers in 2022 and experienced an increase to 17,710,200 passengers in 2023, reflecting a growth rate of 13.5%.
[1]
History
[
edit
]
Early operations
[
edit
]
The Guadalajara Airport was inaugurated on March 1, 1951, featuring two asphalt
runways
, an apron, and a small passenger terminal. The opening ceremony was officiated by President
Miguel Aleman Valdes
.
[4]
Guadalajara Airport has undergone significant expansions since its early days. In 1966, operations were briefly suspended due to safety concerns raised by the Technical Commission of the Mexican Pilots Association (
Spanish
:
Asociacion Sindical de Pilotos Aviadores de Mexico ASPA
). Urgent repairs were carried out, with airlines temporarily redirected to the
Zapopan Air Force Base
. The renovation efforts included enlarging the original 2,200 metres (7,200 ft) runway 10/28. By 1968, the runway was reconstructed and extended to 4,000 metres (13,000 ft), coinciding with the reconstruction of the airport's passenger building.
The airport was reinaugurated as the new Miguel Hidalgo International Airport. This transformation allowed it to accommodate
wide-body aircraft
and was executed largely using existing infrastructure, with the old runway, apron, and building repurposed for general aviation. Throughout the following years, the airport underwent further transformations. In 1973, runways, taxiways, aprons, passenger buildings, parking lots, a
control tower
, and fuel storage areas were completely renovated or newly constructed. Technological enhancements, such as
jetbridges
, high-intensity lights,
visual approach slope indicator
(VASI) and
runway end identifier lights
(REIL), were implemented to ensure operational efficiency and safety.
Hub operations
[
edit
]
In the 1980s,
Mexicana
, a key player in the country's aviation industry, began a decentralization effort to address congestion at
Mexico City International Airport
. Guadalajara, alongside airports like
Monterrey
and
Merida
, played a pivotal role in accommodating additional routes and frequencies to alleviate pressure on the capital's airport. As part of this initiative, a Maintenance Base was inaugurated in 1988. This facility had the capacity to service ten
Boeing 727-200
aircraft and two
DC-10s
, constituting a significant portion (approximately 23%) of the airline's fleet. Until Mexicana's bankruptcy, the airport served as a hub for the airline, functioning as one of its gateways to the
United States
.
On May 24, 1993, the airport parking lot became the site of a tragic firefight between the
Logan Heights Gang
, associated with the
Tijuana Cartel
, and the
Sinaloa Cartel
. This confrontation resulted in seven fatalities, including Catholic Archbishop
Juan Jesus Posadas Ocampo
.
[5]
In 1994, expansion and adaptation projects were funded by
Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares
(ASA), leading to significant improvements in the passenger terminal and departures concourse. The apron was extended, and two taxiways were added. A transformative year came in 1995 with the publication of the 'Ley de Aeropuertos' (Airports Law) by the
Department of Communications and Transportation
(
Spanish
:
Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transporte
), marking the inception of Mexico's airport privatization program. In 1999, Guadalajara Airport joined
Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico
(GAP), a consortium headquartered in Guadalajara.
The airport served as a hub for
Aero California
from its establishment in 1960 until its bankruptcy in 2006. In the 2000s, it also served as the primary hub for the now-defunct regional airline
ALMA
and was a secondary hub for
Aeromar
. In 2010, Volaris commenced service to Guadalajara, absorbing routes from the defunct Aerocalifornia and Mexicana. This marked the establishment of what is now Volaris' largest hub.
Expansion challenges and local concerns
[
edit
]
In 2020, Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico announced a substantial investment of 14 billion
pesos
in Guadalajara Airport. This funding was dedicated to essential developments, including the construction of a new runway located on the northern side of the airport, converting the terminal and other buildings into midfield facilities. Other developments include improved terminal access, an expanded parking lot, a hotel, an office complex, and a solar power plant. The comprehensive expansion project is slated for completion by 2024.
[6]
Despite the promising vision, expansion initiatives have faced setbacks due to conflicts with residents. Protests have disrupted parking lot access, leading to a reevaluation of the construction timeline. Residents argue that Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico holds debts for the land, originally expropriated in 1975 for airport expansion. This contested terrain, spanning the airport's polygon and an additional 320 hectares (790 acres), designates 51 hectares (130 acres) for the second runway. The ongoing dispute has prompted Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico to appeal to the Department of Communications and Transportation, resulting in a temporary postponement of the second runway's construction. Successful completion of these expansions is anticipated to substantially boost the airport's capacity, accommodating over 40 million passengers. In the absence of fruitful negotiations, the potential for another expropriation remains an option to advance the project.
In December 2021, Guadalajara Airport achieved a significant milestone with the introduction of Aeromexico's nonstop flights to
Madrid
, operated by a
Boeing 787
. This marked the airport's inaugural direct connection to Europe.
[7]
Facilities
[
edit
]
The airport is located in the municipality of
Tlajomulco de Zuniga
, approximately 17 kilometres (11 mi) southeast of Downtown Guadalajara. Situated within built-up areas of the Metropolitan zone, the airport is situated at an
elevation
1,529 metres (5,016 ft) above
sea level
, featuring two
asphalt
runways: Runway 11R/29L measuring 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) and Runway 02/20 measuring 1,818 metres (5,965 ft). To the north of the airfield, plans for a new Runway 11L/29R are underway, situated in a build-up area that is currently in the process of expropriation.
Passenger Terminal
[
edit
]
The airport's single terminal spans an area of 89,300 square metres (961,000 sq ft) and is currently undergoing renovations. Operating as a two-story facility, the terminal facilitates domestic and international flights. The ground floor encompasses arrival amenities, including
baggage claim
carousels, domestic
check-in
sections, and a commercial corridor housing snack kiosks, banks, souvenir shops, and car rental services. The upper floor features security checkpoints and a departures area extending 630 metres (2,070 ft), housing food courts, restaurants, and 43 gates distributed across four concourses:
- Concourse A: Airside Walk-up gates A1 - A8
- Concourse B:
Jetbridge
gates B10 - B13
- Concourse C: Jetbridge gates C30 - C37
- Concourse D: Ground Floor, Bus gates D40 - D50
[8]
Various VIP lounges, such as the
Aeromexico
Salon Premier,
Citibanamex
Salon Beyond, VIP Lounge East, and VIP Lounge West, are available within the passenger terminal. Additionally, nearby hotel services include City Express Guadalajara Aeropuerto,
Hampton Inn
by Hilton Guadalajara-Aeropuerto, and Hangar Inn.
[9]
Car rental services include Avis, Enterprise, Hertz, Veico Car Rental, City Car Rental, and Mex Rent A Car. Restaurants at the airport include:
Restaurants
[
edit
]
Other facilities
[
edit
]
Air Force Station
No. 1
(
Spanish
:
Estacion Aerea Militar N.º 1 Aeropuerto Internacional de Guadalajara
)
(E.A.M. 1)
is situated on the airport grounds.
[10]
Adjacent facilities encompass a maintenance base for Volaris, Aeromexico, an FBO terminal, a general aviation apron with several hangars, and a cargo terminal, recently expanded to store approximately 350,000 tons of goods annually within its 27,000 square metres (290,000 sq ft). The cargo terminal features six positions capable of handling various wide-body aircraft.
Airlines and destinations
[
edit
]
Passenger
[
edit
]
Airlines
| Destinations
|
---|
Aeromexico
| Chicago?O'Hare
,
Fresno
,
Los Angeles
,
Madrid
,
Mexico City
,
Mexico City?AIFA
,
Sacramento
,
Salt Lake City
,
San Francisco
,
Tijuana
(resumes July 1, 2024)
[11]
|
Aeromexico Connect
| Atlanta
,
Mexico City
,
Mexico City?AIFA
|
Alaska Airlines
| Los Angeles
,
San Jose (CA)
|
American Airlines
| Dallas/Fort Worth
,
Phoenix?Sky Harbor
|
Calafia Airlines
| La Paz
,
Los Mochis
|
Copa Airlines
| Panama City?Tocumen
|
Delta Air Lines
| Atlanta
|
Flair Airlines
| Toronto?Pearson
(begins September 13, 2024),
[12]
Vancouver
[13]
|
Magnicharters
| Cancun
Seasonal:
Tijuana
|
Mexicana de Aviacion
| Mexico City?AIFA
,
San Jose del Cabo
|
TAR Aerolineas
| Ciudad Juarez
,
Durango
|
United Airlines
| Houston?Intercontinental
|
United Express
| Houston?Intercontinental
|
Viva Aerobus
| Bogota
,
Cancun
,
Chicago?O'Hare
,
Chihuahua
,
Ciudad Juarez
,
Culiacan
,
Hermosillo
,
La Paz
,
Los Angeles
,
Merida
,
Mexico City
,
Mexico City?AIFA
,
Monterrey
,
Puebla
,
Puerto Vallarta
,
Reynosa
,
Tijuana
,
Tulum
,
Tuxtla Gutierrez
,
Veracruz
,
Villahermosa
Seasonal:
Houston?Intercontinental
,
San Jose del Cabo
|
Volaris
| Acapulco
,
Cancun
,
Charlotte
,
Chetumal
,
Chicago?Midway
,
Chicago?O'Hare
,
Chihuahua
,
Ciudad Juarez
,
Ciudad Obregon
,
Cozumel
,
Culiacan
,
Dallas/Fort Worth
,
Denver
,
Fresno
,
Hermosillo
,
Houston?Intercontinental
,
Huatulco
,
La Paz
,
Loreto
,
Las Vegas
,
Los Angeles
,
Los Mochis
,
Merida
,
Mexicali
,
Mexico City
,
Mexico City?AIFA
,
Miami
,
Monterrey
,
New York?JFK
,
Oakland
,
Oaxaca
,
Ontario
,
Orlando
,
Phoenix?Sky Harbor
,
Portland (OR)
,
Puerto Escondido
,
Puerto Vallarta
,
Reno/Tahoe
,
Sacramento
,
San Antonio
,
San Jose (CA)
,
San Jose del Cabo
,
Seattle/Tacoma
,
Tapachula
,
Tijuana
,
Toluca/Mexico City
,
Torreon/Gomez Palacio
,
Tulum
(begins December 5, 2024),
[14]
Tuxtla Gutierrez
,
Veracruz
,
Villahermosa
|
Cargo
[
edit
]
Airlines
| Destinations
|
---|
ABX Air
| Cincinnati
|
Aeronaves TSM
| Laredo
|
AeroUnion
| Los Angeles
,
Mexico City?AIFA
|
Air Canada Cargo
| Dallas/Fort Worth
,
Mexico City?AIFA
,
Toronto?Pearson
|
Air France Cargo
| Paris?Charles de Gaulle
|
Amerijet International
| Miami
|
Atlas Air
[15]
| Anchorage
,
Campinas
,
Los Angeles
,
Miami
|
Cargolux
| Anchorage
,
Houston?Intercontinental
,
Los Angeles
,
Luxembourg
,
Mexico City?AIFA
|
Cathay Cargo
| Anchorage
,
Hong Kong
|
DHL Aviation
| Cincinnati
,
Los Angeles
,
Queretaro
|
Emirates SkyCargo
| Dubai?Al Maktoum
,
Frankfurt
,
Houston?Intercontinental
,
Mexico City?AIFA
|
Estafeta
| La Paz
,
San Luis Potosi
|
FedEx Express
| Memphis
|
Korean Air Cargo
| Seoul?Incheon
,
Vancouver
|
Lufthansa Cargo
| Dallas/Fort Worth
,
Frankfurt
|
Mas Air
| Bogota
,
Los Angeles
,
Miami
|
Panalpina
operated by
Atlas Air
| Huntsville
,
London?Stansted
|
Qatar Airways Cargo
[16]
| Doha
,
Liege
|
TUM AeroCarga
| Hermosillo
,
Reynosa
,
Tijuana
,
Toluca
|
UPS Airlines
| Louisville
|
Destinations map
[
edit
]
Domestic destinations from Guadalajara International Airport
Red
= Year-round destination
Blue
= Future destination
Green
= Seasonal destination
|
North- and Latin American destinations from Guadalajara International Airport
Red
= Year-round destination
Blue
= Future destination
Green
= Seasonal destination
|
European destinations from Guadalajara International Airport
Red
= Year-round destination
Blue
= Future destination
Green
= Seasonal destination
|
Statistics
[
edit
]
Passengers
[
edit
]
Annual passenger traffic
Year
|
Passengers
|
% change
|
2010
|
6,918,621
|
|
2011
|
7,154,959
|
3.41%
|
2012
|
7,389,897
|
3.28%
|
2013
|
8,104,762
|
9.67%
|
2014
|
8,695,183
|
7.28%
|
2015
|
9,758,516
|
12.22%
|
2016
|
11,362,552
|
16.43%
|
2017
|
12,779,874
|
12.47%
|
2018
|
14,340,152
|
12.21%
|
2019
|
14,823,592
|
3.37%
|
2020
|
8,125,600
|
45.40%
|
2021
|
12,243,000
|
50.7%
|
2022
|
15,606,600
|
30.6%
|
2023
|
17,710,200
|
13.5%
|
Busiest routes
[
edit
]
Busiest domestic routes from Guadalajara International Airport (2023)
[17]
Rank
|
City
|
Passengers
|
Ranking
|
Airline
|
1
|
Mexico City
,
Mexico City
|
1,496,980
|
|
Aeromar
,
Aeromexico
,
Aeromexico Connect
,
Viva Aerobus
,
Volaris
|
2
|
Baja California
,
Tijuana
|
1,111,478
|
|
Aeromexico,
Magni
, Viva Aerobus, Volaris
|
3
|
Quintana Roo
,
Cancun
|
540,126
|
|
Magni, Viva Aerobus, Volaris
|
4
|
Nuevo Leon
,
Monterrey
|
512,389
|
|
Viva Aerobus, Volaris
|
5
|
Baja California Sur
,
Los Cabos
|
271,197
|
1
|
Calafia Airlines
, Viva Aerobus, Volaris
|
6
|
Chihuahua
,
Ciudad Juarez
|
252,740
|
1
|
TAR
, Viva Aerobus, Volaris
|
7
|
Sonora
,
Hermosillo
|
238,069
|
1
|
Interjet, Viva Aerobus, Volaris
|
8
|
Baja California
,
Mexicali
|
204,411
|
3
|
Volaris
|
9
|
Yucatan
,
Merida
|
188,779
|
2
|
Viva Aerobus, Volaris
|
10
|
Baja California Sur
,
La Paz
|
167,241
|
|
Aeromar, Calafia Airlines, Viva Aerobus, Volaris
|
11
|
Sinaloa
,
Culiacan
|
161,445
|
2
|
Viva Aerobus, Volaris
|
12
|
Jalisco
,
Puerto Vallarta
|
160,722
|
1
|
Aeromar, TAR, Viva Aerobus
|
13
|
Chihuahua
,
Chihuahua
|
155,419
|
1
|
Viva Aerobus, Volaris
|
14
|
Veracruz
,
Veracruz
|
121,559
|
1
|
Viva Aerobus, Volaris
|
14
|
State of Mexico
,
Mexico City-AIFA
|
116,069
|
|
Viva Aerobus, Volaris
|
Busiest international routes from Guadalajara International Airport (2023)
[17]
Rank
|
City
|
Passengers
|
Ranking
|
Airline
|
1
|
United States
,
Los Angeles
|
528,241
|
|
Aeromexico
,
Alaska Airlines
,
Viva Aerobus
,
Volaris
|
2
|
United States
,
Chicago
(
Midway
and
O'Hare
)
[a]
|
239,493
|
|
Aeromexico, Viva Aerobus, Volaris
|
3
|
United States
,
Dallas/Fort Worth
|
209,273
|
|
American Airlines
, Volaris
|
4
|
United States
,
Houston?Intercontinental
|
160,918
|
|
United Airlines
,
United Express
, Viva Aerobus, Volaris
|
5
|
United States
,
San Jose
|
159,456
|
2
|
Alaska Airlines, Volaris
|
6
|
United States
,
Oakland
|
122,528
|
2
|
Volaris
|
7
|
United States
,
Fresno
|
121,576
|
1
|
Aeromexico, Volaris
|
8
|
United States
,
Sacramento
|
119,077
|
3
|
Aeromexico, Volaris
|
9
|
United States
,
Las Vegas
|
101,589
|
|
Volaris
|
10
|
United States
,
Phoenix?Sky Harbor
|
82,333
|
|
American Airlines,
American Eagle
, Volaris
|
11
|
United States
,
Ontario
|
78,497
|
1
|
Volaris
|
12
|
United States
,
Seattle
|
66,974
|
1
|
Volaris
|
13
|
United States
,
Portland
|
59,936
|
|
Volaris
|
14
|
Spain
,
Madrid
|
57,413
|
|
Aeromexico
|
15
|
United States
,
San Antonio
|
56,246
|
|
Volaris
|
- Notes
- ^
The official statistics combine both Midway and O'Hare airports.
Accidents and incidents
[
edit
]
- On June 2, 1958,
Aeronaves de Mexico
Flight 111, a
Lockheed L-749A Constellation
(registration XA-MEV), crashed into La Latilla Mountain, 16 kilometers (10 miles) from the airport, shortly after takeoff for a flight to
Mexico City
, after the airliner's crew failed to follow the established climb-out procedure for the airport after taking off. The crash killed all 45 people on board, and two prominent American scientists ?
oceanographer
Townsend Cromwell
and
fisheries scientist
Bell M. Shimada
? were among the dead. It was the deadliest aviation accident in Mexican history at the time.
[18]
[19]
[20]
- Aeromexico Flight 498
: On August 31, 1986 an
Aeromexico
DC-9 that originated from Mexico City and stopped at Guadalajara, Loreto and Tijuana collided with a private aircraft while attempting to land at
Los Angeles International Airport
.
- On May 24, 1993,
Juan Jesus Posadas Ocampo
, the Archbishop of Guadalajara, and six other people were killed in a shootout between rival drug cartels in the airport parking lot.
[21]
- On September 16, 1998, Continental Flight 475, a Boeing 737-524 registered N20643. Departed Houston at 20:56 for an IFR flight to Guadalajara. After executing a missed approach on their first ILS approach to runway 28, the flight was vectored for a second approach to runway 28. The second approach was reported by both pilots to be uneventful; however, after touchdown, the aircraft drifted to the left side of the runway. The left main landing gear exited the hard surface of the runway approximately 2700 feet from the threshold and eventually, all 3 landing gears exited the 197-foot wide asphalt runway, and all the passengers survived.
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
"GAP Traffic Report 2023"
(PDF)
. Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico. January 2024
. Retrieved
January 27,
2024
.
- ^
"Statistics by Airport"
(Web)
. Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes
. Retrieved
January 29,
2021
.
- ^
"Volaris cements Guadalajara as a hub"
(Web)
. Milenio. April 2018
. Retrieved
January 29,
2021
.
- ^
"Guadalajara dio una Calurosa Recepcion al Presidente. Gran Concurrencia en el Aeropuerto"
.
El Informador
(in Spanish). March 2, 1951
. Retrieved
March 29,
2022
.
- ^
Golden, Tim (May 25, 1993).
"Cardinal in Mexico Killed in a Shooting Tied to Drug Battle"
.
The New York Times
.
- ^
"Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta airports in line for major upgrades"
.
Mexico News Daily
. February 7, 2020
. Retrieved
February 11,
2020
.
- ^
"Fly nonstop to Europe from Guadalajara"
.
Aeromexico
. August 5, 2021
. Retrieved
August 9,
2021
.
- ^
Quarter Studios - Soluciones Digitales.
"Aeropuerto de Guadalajara"
. Retrieved
July 29,
2015
.
- ^
Hangar Inn
- ^
"Bases Aereas. Secretaria de la Defensa Nacional"
.
- ^
"Aeromexico To Open New Guadalajara-Tijuana Route"
.
NITU
(in Mexican Spanish). May 2024
. Retrieved
May 27,
2024
.
- ^
Robertson, Becky (April 11, 2024).
"New cheap and direct flights under $150 will connect Toronto to historic sun destination"
.
blogTO
. Retrieved
April 11,
2024
.
- ^
Parkinson, Bruce (November 1, 2023).
"Flair Touts Improved Performance, Announces New YVR-GDL & YYZ-YQB Routes"
.
TravelPulse Canada
. Retrieved
November 1,
2023
.
- ^
"Volaris connects Guadalajara with Tulum: Take advantage of the opening offer with flights from $99 pesos"
.
El Debate
(in Spanish). April 2024
. Retrieved
April 10,
2024
.
- ^
"Atlas Air Schedule"
.
Atlas Air
. Retrieved
December 19,
2023
.
- ^
"Qatar Airways Cargo commences Macau-Guadalajara transpacific freighter service"
.
Gulf Times Commercial Press
. January 2019
. Retrieved
September 10,
2020
.
- ^
a
b
"Estadistica operacional por origen-destino / Traffic Statistics by City Pairs"
(in Spanish). Agencia Federal de Aviacion Civil. January 2024
. Retrieved
January 29,
2023
.
- ^
"Accident"
.
Aviation Safety Network
. June 1958
. Retrieved
September 10,
2020
.
- ^
"Bell Masayuki Shimada (1922-1958)"
.
National Ocean Service
. July 2017
. Retrieved
September 10,
2020
.
- ^
"NOAA Honors Nisei with Launch of Fisheries Vessel"
.
Japanese American Veterans Association
. December 2008
. Retrieved
September 10,
2020
.
- ^
Golden, Tim (May 25, 1993).
"Cardinal in Mexico Killed in a Shooting Tied to Drug Battle"
.
The New York Times
. Retrieved
October 9,
2021
.
External links
[
edit
]
|
---|
International
| |
---|
Domestic
| |
---|
Unscheduled
| |
---|
Defunct
| |
---|
Related lists
| |
---|
|