Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 7
Benito Juárez Airport Finishes $500 Million Upgrade Before 2026 World Cup as 4 Million Passengers Loom
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 7

Benito Juárez Airport Finishes $500 Million Upgrade Before 2026 World Cup as 4 Million Passengers Loom

1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 7

Summary

  • $500 million in passenger-facing renovations at Mexico City’s Benito Juárez airport were completed by May 31, days before the World Cup opens this week.
  • Airport officials pushed round-the-clock work while keeping the nearly 100-year-old hub open, aiming to handle 3 million to 4 million passengers during the six-week tournament.
  • More than 5 million visitors are expected in Mexico for the World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States and Canada, putting the capital’s long-cramped and outdated airport under fresh pressure.
  • Questions about whether the overhaul is enough persist because operational upgrades were deferred until after the tournament, and part of a pedestrian bridge fell last week and blocked traffic.

Insights

After a bridge collapse, can Mexico City's rushed $500M airport fix guarantee safety for millions of World Cup fans?
With the Navy overseeing airport upgrades, what is Mexico's long-term strategy for its aging aviation infrastructure after the World Cup?