Benito Juárez Airport renovation nears completion ahead of 2026 World Cup

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup less than a month away, passengers arriving at Mexico City's Benito Juárez International Airport are navigating a major renovation site amid a final push to complete upgrades. The airport, which handles approximately 120,000 passengers daily, is undergoing a $500 million modernization project as it prepares to welcome international visitors for the tournament.

Airport authorities stated that more than 3,000 workers are currently laboring 20 hours a day to finish the first phase of the renovation, which is over 90 percent complete. The scale of the project includes new terminal facades, renovated restrooms, refreshed baggage carousels, and the replacement of nearly 100,000 square meters of flooring and lighting. An internal redesign has reclaimed 30,000 square meters of waiting space for travelers.

Juan José Padilla, the general director of the airport, acknowledged the project has faced significant complications. He explained that unexpected challenges arose from half-century-old infrastructure and a lack of original blueprints for some areas. Padilla stated that years of neglect and underinvestment had affected the terminals, which have long...