Payment for the work at Felipe Ángeles International Airport is through transfers of the terminal's own resources to the agency and includes: soil mechanics studies, topographic survey, executive project and execution.
The expansion of the cargo facilities at Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) is being carried out by engineers from Mexico's National Defense Secretariat, who will complete their work by next February at the latest. The total investment will be 1,309.7 million pesos (US$ 64.6 million), 54% less than originally projected.
Payment for the work is made through transfers of the terminal's own resources to the department and includes: soil mechanics studies, topographic survey, executive project and execution.
During the planning of the works (six inspected areas, expansion of the loading platform and its respective taxiways) the participation of private construction companies was contemplated, as stated among the risk factors in the project registration with the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit in May, as it implies the possibility of non-compliance with contractual commitments by the contracting companies.
However, the possibility of private presence is latent because the agreement in force between the parties specifies that, in order to fulfill the mission, the General Directorate of Engineers "may execute and/or contract under its strict responsibility, the works, services and maintenance that the AIFA entrusts to it, so that in the event that its capacity is exceeded, it can carry out the contracts that are required."
To date, the physical progress of these works has not been reported publicly because they are not being carried out with budgetary resources.
A BUSINESS ON THE RISE
The instruction of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to remove all cargo air operations from the Mexico City International Airport (AICM) (only those carried out by airlines that transport passengers remained) and to take that activity to the AIFA motivated the acceleration of the expansion.
“The direct benefits identified with the required expansion are: derived from the increase in income received by this company (AIFA) for airport and complementary services. Indirectly, the project contributes to increasing the number of sources of employment associated with the legal entities that rent the warehouses,” the National Defense Secretariat reported seven months ago.
According to airport data, 375,616.6 tons of cargo (national and international) were transported between January and October, which represented an increase of 232% compared to the same period in 2024.
Cargo airlines currently operating in the AIFA include: UPS, DHL, FedEx, mas, Qatar Airways, Cargo Jet, Air France Cargo, China Southern, Atlas Air, Cargolux, Cathay Pacific Cargo and Ethiopian Cargo.
Cargo services, like passenger services, are currently undergoing a broad publicity campaign with the aim of attracting greater revenue to the terminal.
Regarding the supervision of the works to expand the loading facilities, the agreement (which is public) specifies that the department must adhere to all regulations and ordinances of the competent authorities in matters of construction, safety and use of public roads, and is responsible for any damages and losses resulting from non-compliance.