Palenque International Airport () is an international airport in Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico. It serves international air traffic for the northern Chiapas region, including Palenque, serving domestic flights and supporting tourism, flight training, and general aviation activities.
Previously managed by Grupo Aeroportuario de Chiapas, the airport has been operated by Grupo Olmeca-Maya-Mexica (GAFSACOMM) since 2023, a holding company owned by the Mexican military. In terms of passenger traffic, the airport handled 16,909 passengers in 2025.
Officially inaugurated on March 13, 2014, the airport replaced an older facility located 3 km east. Interjet initiated bi-weekly service to Mexico City on that date, resulting in increased traffic to 18,148 passengers in 2015. The airport was declared international in 2016.
Over the years, regional airlines have provided occasional charter or limited commercial service to the airport. Calafia Airlines briefly operated the Puebla - Tuxtla Gutiérrez - Palenque - Cancún route in 2018. Magnicharters has also served occasional charter flights to Monterrey.
The Interjet service continued until its bankruptcy in 2020, and the airport was left without any regular scheduled service for nearly four years until Mexicana launched a new service in January 2024.
Facilities The airport is situated at an elevation of above mean sea level, covering an area of . It features a single asphalt runway, designated as 10/28, measuring . The commercial aviation apron spans , featuring three parking positions for narrow-body aircraft and additional stands for general aviation. Official operating hours are from 9:00 to 18:00.
The passenger terminal caters to both domestic arrivals and departures in a single-story structure. It includes check-in areas, a security checkpoint, a baggage claim area, and an arrivals hall. The departures concourse includes three gates with direct access to the apron, allowing passengers to board their planes by walking to the aircraft. Adjacent facilities include parking areas, civil aviation hangars, administration offices, courier and logistic facilities, and facilities for general aviation.
On 1 January 2024, the new Tren Maya station called Palenque Train Station (), situated from the airport grounds opened, aiming to establish connectivity with the Yucatán Peninsula, including Tulum International Airport, Cancun International Airport, and other key tourist destinations in southeastern Mexico.
Airlines and destinations Passenger
Destinations map
Statistics Annual Traffic + Passenger statistics at Palenque Airport Year Air operations change % Total Passengers change % 2013 692 n/d 1,754 n/d 2014 1,525 120.37% 17,304 886.54% 2015 1,046 31.40% 18,148 4.87% 2016 896 14.34% 17,242 4.99% 2017 726 18.97% 14,427 16.32% 2018 1,222 68.32% 17,482 21.18% 2019 625 48.85% 20,666 18.21% 2020 516 21.10% 6,399 69.04% 2021 553 7.17% 1,602 74.73% 2022 646 16.82% 1,602 0.0% 2023 895 38.54% 4,028 151.44% 2024 763 14.75% 11,127 176.41%% 2025 760 0.39% 16,909 51.96%
See also List of the busiest airports in Mexico List of airports in Mexico List of airports by ICAO code: M List of busiest airports in North America List of the busiest airports in Latin America Transportation in Mexico Tourism in Mexico Tren Maya Palenque railway station
References
External links Official Website Grupo Olmeca Maya Mexica
Accident history for PQM at Aviation Safety Network Palenque Airport information at Great Circle Mapper Tren Maya´s independent website Tren Maya´s official website (Spanish)