Mexico City International Airport: One of the Closest Big-City Airports to Downtown

Getting there, at a glance

Amenities, at a glance

Mexico City International Airport (IATA: MEX) is Mexico’s busiest airport and Aeroméxico’s principal hub, handling more than 50 million passengers a year. It sits just 5 km (3 mi) from the Zócalo, the heart of Mexico City’s historic downtown — remarkably close for an airport of this size.

Overview

MEX operates two terminals connected by a free shuttle (Aerotrén) since they aren’t linked airside. As Aeroméxico’s main hub, it anchors an extensive domestic network across Mexico plus international routes throughout North America, Europe, and Asia as a SkyTeam member. The airport’s central location — genuinely close to downtown rather than out in the suburbs — is one of its defining practical advantages for travelers. MEX served 45.36 million passengers in 2024, a real decline from 48.4 million in 2023 as regional airports and capacity constraints have chipped away at its market share.

Terminals

• Terminal 1: A mix of domestic flights and some international carriers.
• Terminal 2: Aeroméxico’s main terminal and its SkyTeam partners, handling the bulk of international departures.

The two terminals aren’t connected within security — allow time for the Aerotrén shuttle if you need to transfer between them.

Airlines

Aeroméxico, Mexico’s flag carrier, operates its principal hub at MEX with an extensive domestic network across the country plus international routes to the US, Europe, and Asia as a member of SkyTeam. That hub concentration makes MEX the best-connected airport for travel within Mexico and one of the key gateways between North America and Latin America.

How to Get There

• Metro (Line 5): $5 MXN, the cheapest option by far, about 30–40 minutes to the city center — best used in daylight with light luggage, given standard big-city metro safety considerations.
• Authorized airport taxi (sitio): $250–350 MXN via the official taxi counter inside the terminal — use this counter specifically rather than accepting offers from anyone outside, about 30–45 minutes depending on traffic.
• Uber: Generally comparable or slightly cheaper than the authorized taxi, about 30–45 minutes, with pickup from a designated area.

Prices above are indicative and can change — always check current fares at the airport’s official taxi counter or your ride-hailing app.

Getting Through Security and Passport Control

• Domestic flights: Security only. Typically 20–30 minutes off-peak, up to 35–50 minutes during busy periods.
• International flights: Security plus passport control. Typically 30–45 minutes off-peak, up to 50–70 minutes during peak international departure banks.
• MEX handles significant connecting traffic for both domestic and international Aeroméxico routes, so build extra time around peak morning and evening waves.

Parking

MEX has parking available at both terminals, with clear signage for short- and long-stay options.

Wifi

Free wifi is available in the terminals with a time-limited free session.

Best Times to Arrive

• Domestic flights: Arrive 2 hours before departure.
• International flights: Arrive 3 hours ahead, especially for Aeroméxico’s peak international departure banks.
• Mexico City traffic can be unpredictable at rush hour — even though the airport is close to downtown in distance, budget extra time for the drive during peak commute hours.

Where to Eat

MEX has a strong selection of Mexican regional cuisine — real tacos and regional specialties, not just generic airport fare — alongside international chains, spread across both terminals. At the NH Collection, Bottega serves Italian and Argentine dishes for lunch and dinner, and La Sagrada Terrace Bar leans into Mexican cantina style with drinks and shareable plates.

Airport Hotel

The NH Collection Mexico City Airport T2 is built directly into Terminal 2 — no shuttle needed if that’s your terminal. Beyond Bottega and La Sagrada, its breakfast buffet includes a live cooking station for made-to-order eggs, a genuinely solid option before an early flight.

Lounges

• The Aeroméxico Salón Premier lounges are available across Terminal 2 for eligible business class passengers, elite status holders, or paid access.
• Several Priority Pass-affiliated lounges are also available.

Duty-Free Shopping

MEX’s duty-free zone includes genuine Mexican specialties — tequila, silver jewelry, and local crafts — alongside the usual international fashion, cosmetics, and electronics brands.

Airport Map

This is a simplified layout to help you get oriented — for real-time, gate-by-gate wayfinding, use MEX’s official resources.

Useful Links

• Official airport site (AICM) — terminal info, services, live flight status.
• Aeroméxico — flight schedules and connections.

Long Layover Tips

• With 4+ hours and a visa situation permitting entry, downtown Mexico City and the Zócalo are genuinely reachable given the airport’s unusually short distance from the center.
• If staying airside, Terminal 2 has the best mix of lounges and dining given Aeroméxico’s hub presence.
• Since the two terminals aren’t connected airside, confirm your terminal well before your connection and budget real time for the Aerotrén shuttle if you need to switch.