• Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto looks at the mockup of the planned $9.2 billion airport of Mexico City. Presidency of Mexico / EPA
    Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto looks at the mockup of the planned $9.2 billion airport of Mexico City. Presidency of Mexico / EPA
  • Above, a mock-up of the new international airport in Mexico City. The new airport will cost an estimated $9.2 billion, creating 160,000 jobs during its construction. Tomas Bravo / Reuters
    Above, a mock-up of the new international airport in Mexico City. The new airport will cost an estimated $9.2 billion, creating 160,000 jobs during its construction. Tomas Bravo / Reuters
  • British architect Norman Foster speaks during the announcement of the design of Mexico City’s new $9.2-billion airport. Mr Foster and Mexican Fernando Romero have had their design for the airport chosen. Eduardo Verdugo / AP Photo
    British architect Norman Foster speaks during the announcement of the design of Mexico City’s new $9.2-billion airport. Mr Foster and Mexican Fernando Romero have had their design for the airport chosen. Eduardo Verdugo / AP Photo
  • A mockup of the future airport of Mexico City. The new terminal will have six runways and will cover up to 120 million passengers per year, four times bigger of the capacity of the current airport. Presidency of Mexico / EPA
    A mockup of the future airport of Mexico City. The new terminal will have six runways and will cover up to 120 million passengers per year, four times bigger of the capacity of the current airport. Presidency of Mexico / EPA
  • The new airport will be close to the site where Mexico's government tried but failed to build a new airport in 2002. Eduardo Verdugo / AP Photo
    The new airport will be close to the site where Mexico's government tried but failed to build a new airport in 2002. Eduardo Verdugo / AP Photo
  • Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto talks about the future airport of Mexico City, which will be 'modern', 'a symbol of Mexican identity' and the future of the country. Presidency of Mexico / EPA
    Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto talks about the future airport of Mexico City, which will be 'modern', 'a symbol of Mexican identity' and the future of the country. Presidency of Mexico / EPA
  • A mock-up of the winning design for a new, futuristic, spider-shaped airport for Mexico City during its unveiling. Tomas Bravo / Reuters
    A mock-up of the winning design for a new, futuristic, spider-shaped airport for Mexico City during its unveiling. Tomas Bravo / Reuters
  • The planned airport's structure will function like a giant solar farm and rainwater collection system, with a natural ventilation pattern the designers claim will not need heating or air conditioning for most of the year. Presidency of Mexico / EPA
    The planned airport's structure will function like a giant solar farm and rainwater collection system, with a natural ventilation pattern the designers claim will not need heating or air conditioning for most of the year. Presidency of Mexico / EPA
  • Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, centre, listens as the airport's designers Norman Foster, second left, and Fernando Romero, left, discuss subtle points about the project. Presidency of Mexico / AFP
    Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, centre, listens as the airport's designers Norman Foster, second left, and Fernando Romero, left, discuss subtle points about the project. Presidency of Mexico / AFP
  • The current airport, Benito Juárez International, has two runways but only one is used at any given time because the landing strips are too close together. Sáshenka Gutiérrez / EPA
    The current airport, Benito Juárez International, has two runways but only one is used at any given time because the landing strips are too close together. Sáshenka Gutiérrez / EPA
  • The current airport, Benito Juárez International, is close to saturation with passenger growth averaging about 9 per cent in the past three years. The airport handled 31.5 million passengers in 2013, of which about a third were international passengers. Sáshenka Gutiérrez / EPA
    The current airport, Benito Juárez International, is close to saturation with passenger growth averaging about 9 per cent in the past three years. The airport handled 31.5 million passengers in 2013, of which about a third were international passengers. Sáshenka Gutiérrez / EPA

Business

In pictures: Mexico City’s plans for mega airport

Liz Claus

September 07, 2014

  • English
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Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto has announced plans for a new Mexico City airport, costing at an estimated $9.2 billion, that will eventually be the largest in Latin America.

Technology