Mexico City's airport transformation sparks questions about its long-term impact and usage.

Mexico City's century-old airport has just completed a swift $500 million makeover, yet concerns linger.

Paint fumes filled the air at Benito Juárez International Airport, a potent scent of transformation underway. The din of jackhammers echoed through corridors as heavy machinery and warning signs obstructed pathways.

Renovations totaling $500 million were completed under intense time pressure, with workers laboring around the clock to meet the deadline for the World Cup's opening in Mexico City this week. The nearly century-old airport, plagued by congestion and maintenance issues, remained operational throughout the transformation process.

Mexico City's airport transformation has sparked concerns about its long-term implications on usage. The six-week tournament, co-hosted by the United States and Canada, is anticipated to draw over five million visitors. Airport authorities predict that between three and four million passengers will utilize Benito Juárez during this period.

Admiral Juan Manuel Muñoz Gómez of the Mexican Navy confidently asserts that they will meet their goal, having played a key role in overseeing the airport renovation commissioned by President Claudia Sheinbaum last year. The team is fully equipped to handle the expected workload.

Mexico City's airport system is facing intense examination following the recent World Cup events.

The passenger-focused renovations at Mexico City's airport were completed by May 31, but the ultimate impact on the facility remains uncertain due to the surge in demand expected from the tournament. Further operational upgrades are still pending, with officials indicating they will resume after the World Cup concludes. The pace and quality of work have already come under scrutiny following a recent incident where part of a pedestrian bridge collapsed, causing traffic congestion.

The airport has faced criticism for years due to its chronic overcrowding and lack of investment. Its inadequacy is particularly striking given Mexico City's status as one of the globe's largest metropolises, serving a massive population of 23 million residents.

A pivotal decision in 2018 by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador set off a chain of events that would plague Mexico City's airport infrastructure. The cancellation of the $13 billion project, which was one-third finished, led to a costly detour: building a new commercial airport at a remote military air base for an estimated $4 billion, nearly twice as far from downtown as initially planned.

Felipe Ángeles International Airport's passenger numbers have increased since its opening in 2022, yet it still lags behind Benito Juárez, which served a substantial 45 million travelers last calendar year.

Benito Juárez Airport's makeover is primarily superficial, according to Peter Cerdá, head of the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association. The airport, which first welcomed passengers in 1928 with its initial terminal expanded in 1952 and a second one inaugurated in 2007, had reached a critical juncture, prompting Cerdá to describe recent efforts as temporary fixes rather than comprehensive solutions.

The relocation of cargo operations to Felipe Ángeles International Airport has been met with criticism from the US government, which claims that it's artificially inflating the airport's usage. The Trump administration argues that this move is driving up costs for American companies by millions of dollars due to increased operational expenses at Benito Juárez International Airport, which was originally designed to handle 32 million passengers annually.

Cerdá expressed confidence in airport safety measures. However his primary concern lies with accommodating anticipated regional expansion rates of up to 6 percent per annum through substantial upgrades or additions.

The recent upgrades are considered temporary fixes, suitable only for the immediate needs of the upcoming World Cup event in Mexico. However they do little to tackle the pressing issue of sustained growth in both Mexico City and the country as a whole.

Benito Juárez Airport's renovation has sparked debate over its lasting effects on Mexico City's air travel infrastructure. According to Mexican navy officials, the makeover extends beyond superficial changes like enhanced décor and amenities. Improved operational efficiency is another significant aspect of the revamp, they claim.

Airport officials claim that the introduction of nearly 60 automated boarding pass readers and enhanced bag scanners has significantly reduced average security wait times from 17 minutes to just seven minutes. Immigration processing has also seen a substantial boost with up to three times as many interview modules and automatic gates now available. Meanwhile, facial-recognition technology covers the entire airport area.

Airport modernization efforts have introduced advanced software for optimizing air traffic flow. Upgrades to drainage systems on both runways have also been implemented, while newly constructed taxiways enable planes to access gates more efficiently. These enhancements contributed to the airport's recent approval to boost hourly flight capacity from 44 to 46, still shy of the pre-pandemic peak of 61 flights per hour in 2022.

Admiral Muñoz Gómez emphasizes that upgrading Mexico City's airport is about more than cosmetic changes, it's a vital infrastructure improvement with lasting benefits for the country beyond the tournament's conclusion. The renovations are a direct response to public demand.

Passengers like Roger Limon, who regularly travels through the airport, have witnessed its transformation firsthand. A recent tile-laying project caught his attention as he waited to depart for Los Angeles. With three decades of experience living in Mexico City, Limon recalls the airport's inadequacies even back then - it was woefully outdated and undersized for a metropolis of its size.

The sheer volume of travelers is overwhelming.

José Luis Cruz Ovando, 68, stood patiently beside his wife at the airport, their next destination being southern Mexico, a regular stop for them over the past few years.

The makeover of Mexico City's airport has raised concerns about its sustainability. With a fresh coat of paint, the gates have become more accessible, but underlying issues persist regarding runway capacity and available space.