Uruapan International Airport (); officially Aeropuerto Internacional Lic. y Gen. Ignacio López Rayón (Lic. y Gen. Ignacio López Rayón International Airport) is an international airport located in Uruapan, Michoacán, Mexico. It serves domestic and international flights and it supports flight training, executive aviation, and general aviation activities. Operated by Grupo Olmeca-Maya-Mexica (GAFSACOMM), a federal government-owned corporation, the airport is named after Ignacio López Rayón, a leader in the Mexican War of Independence. The airport served 172,193 passengers in 2024, a figure which increased slightly to 175,010 in 2025.
History
The first air services to Uruapan began in 1937, connecting the city to Acapulco. The airport joined the Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares (ASA) network in 1970. Regional airlines Aero Cuahonte and Aero Sudpacífico were once based here. Over the years, Uruapan Airport has been served by various airlines, including Aeromar, Avolar, Líneas Aéreas Azteca, and TAESA Airlines. Volaris launched the airport's first international service to Los Angeles in October 2012. In 2023, airport operations shifted to Grupo Olmeca Maya Mexica (GAFSACOMM), a military-owned entity, aligning with the López Obrador administration's strategy to involve the armed forces in major infrastructure projects.
Facilities
The airport is situated within the Uruapan urban area, covering an approximate area of , at an elevation of above sea level. It features a asphalt runway, capable of accommodating aircraft like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. The commercial aviation apron spans and can accommodate three narrow-body aircraft. The airport operates daily from 07:00 to 19:00.
The passenger terminal, a two-story structure, accommodates arrivals and departures, offering standard services commonly found at regional airports. These services include parking facilities, a check-in area, a security checkpoint, a VIP lounge, retail outlets, immigration and customs facilities, baggage claim zones, an arrivals hall with car rental services and taxi stands, and a departure concourse with three gates providing direct access to the apron. With no jet bridges, passengers walk to their aircraft. The airport also houses logistics and courier companies, administrative, and police facilities.
Airlines and destinations
Passenger
Destination maps
Statistics Annual Traffic + Passenger statistics at Uruapan Airport Year Total Passengers change % Cargo movements (t) Air operations 2006 150,047 251 7,569 2007 135,211 9.89%221 6,869 2008 110,816 18.04%71 7,417 2009 106,748 3.67%9 7,159 2010 107,379 0.59%11 6,481 2011 109,455 1.93% 1 6,312 2012 112,275 2.58%11 5,509 2013 113,101 0.74%40 5,074 2014 106,949 5.44%28 4,866 2015 110,067 2.92%1 4,816 2016 128,578 16.82%0 4,145 2017 150,192 16.81% 0 4,485 2018 160,045 6.6% - 5,201 2019 167,796 4.84% 0 5,123 2020 129,019 23.11% 0 4,238 2021 167,112 29.53% 0 5,032 2022 151,151 9.55% 0 4,599 2023 173,005 14.46% 0 4,546 2024 172,193 0.47% 0 4,819 2025 175,010 1.64% 0 4,992
Accidents and incidents TAESA Flight 725, a DC-9, crashed on take-off from Uruapan International Airport en route to Mexico City on November 25, 1999, killing all 18 people on board.
See also List of the busiest airports in Mexico List of busiest airports in North America List of the busiest airports in Latin America List of airports in Mexico List of airports by ICAO code: M Airline destinations: Mexico Aero Sudpacífico Transportation in Mexico Tourism in Mexico
References
External links
Official Website Grupo Olmeca Maya Mexica
Uruapan Airport information at Great Circle Mapper Accident history for URU at Aviation Safety Network