The existing passenger terminal at Acapulco Airport (ACA) will be demolished upon opening of the new terminal proposed. Image courtesy of Microstar.

Layout of the existing terminal building at ACA. Image courtesy of Microstar.

The air traffic control tower at Acapulco International Airport. Image courtesy of Bill Schloman.

The parking area is located opposite to the passenger terminal building. Image courtesy of Mitrush.

Acapulco International Airport is also known as Juan Álvarez International Airport. Image courtesy of Bill Schloman.

Also known as Juan Álvarez International Airport, Acapulco International Airport (ACA) is located 16 miles south-east of Acapulco, a seaport in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast of Mexico. It is the biggest international airport in Mexico’s southern Pacific region.

Acapulco is one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in southern Mexico and the ACA plays a vital role in the development of tourism in the region.

The airport is operated and managed by Grupo Aeroportuario Centro Norte (OMA) under a 50-year concession. OMA manages 13 international airports in the central and northern regions of Mexico.

ACA handled 730,382 passengers in 2015. A number of Mexican and American airlines operate at the airport, in addition to a number of European charters, including Aeromexico, Aeromar, United Airlines, Vivia Aerobus, Volaris, Interjet and TAR Aerolineas.

A new terminal building, which will replace the existing terminal, was proposed by OMA in 2014. The new terminal will have a capacity of 1.3 million passengers a year, which can be further expanded to two million.

ACA terminals

The Acapulco International Airport has a single passenger terminal with a built-up area of 19,341m². The passenger terminal is a two-storey building that serves both domestic and international airlines.

The terminal has six gates numbered one through six in the upper level, one check-in desk, two baggage claim stations, six security check points, one boarding pass control and three custom checks. Other passenger facilities at the terminal include duty-free shops, restaurants, vending machines, banking facilities, VIP lounges, ground transportation operators, information counters and passenger waiting rooms.

The airport also has a general aviation terminal, which was built in the 1960s.

New passenger terminal development

OMA sanctioned Mex$547m ($29.5m) for the first phase construction of the proposed new passenger terminal at ACA. The new terminal will be a two-storey building with a total built-up area of 18,800m² and an annual passenger capacity of 1.3 million in the first phase. The new building will be constructed adjacent to the existing building, which will be demolished once the new terminal becomes operational.

The new passenger terminal will feature 34 permanent and nine automated check-in counters, as well as three security checkpoint lines equipped with the new technology.

The new terminal design will incorporate modern and environmentally friendly building concepts, combining concrete and glass structures with large interior and exterior gardens, thus lowering the energy consumption and allowing for efficient operation while giving a contemporary look.

Other features of the terminal include a flow separator between arriving and departing passengers for both international and domestic flights in addition to other advanced systems and technologies. The construction will be in accordance with the highest standards of quality and efficiency and will aim to provide adequate space for passengers, domestic and international airlines, authorities and service providers.

Construction of the first phase began in July 2016. The airport will be partially closed to allow for construction with no effect on the regular services or other airport operations.

Runways

The Acapulco International Airport has two runways, comprising Runway 06/24, which is 1,700m-long and 35m-wide, and Runway 10/28, which is 3,302m-long and 45m-wide. Both the runways can handle 40 operations an hour. In addition, the airport has six taxiways.

Airport parking

The parking area is located is close to the passenger terminal building and offers both long-term and short-term facilities. It is equipped with an automated payment machine.

Ground transportation

Transportation options available at the airport include rental cars, taxis, buses and hotel shuttles. Taxis and car rental offices are located near the passenger terminal.