Regardless of the imminent public consultation on the viability of Mexico City’s new airport, the existing one — plus the airport at Toluca — require “major surgery” costing just under 5 billion pesos (US $264.3 million).

The federal Secretary of Communications and Transportations in the next administration, Javier Jiménez Espriú, told a press conference yesterday that “immediate measures” are required.

They include the “rehabilitation of the Benito Juárez International Airport [in Mexico City], its rehabilitation, modernization and update.”

Jiménez said that finishing the new airport will not be possible before incoming president López Obrador finishes his term in late 2024. So repairs, he said, require urgent action.

For the Mexico City airport, Jiménez said, the sinking of the land, drainage and water supply need to be addressed, along with the implementation of streamlined passenger management processes, all of which is estimated to cost 3 billion pesos.

Modernizing the facilities in Toluca, capital of México state, will require an additional 1 to 2 billion.

The modernization of both air terminals, continued Jiménez, “must start immediately.”

The renovations will give the two a combined capacity of 60 million passengers, “similar to the proposed 70 million contemplated for the first stage of the new airport,” he said.

Public consultation is to be held later this month to determine whether to continue with the construction of the new airport at Mexico City, estimated to have advanced 20% (according to the incoming administration of López Obrador) and 33% (in the current government’s estimation).

Source: Milenio (sp)