Chetumal International Airport

For the future station, see Chetumal Airport railway station.

Chetumal International Airport (Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional de Chetumal) (IATA: CTM, ICAO: MMCM) is an international airport located in Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico, near the Belize–Mexico border. It serves domestic flights for Chetumal and the southern Quintana Roo region, while also supporting various executive and general aviation activities, and hosting Mexican Navy facilities. Since 2023, the airport has been operated by Grupo Olmeca-Maya-Mexica (GAFSACOMM), a holding company owned by the Mexican military. In terms of traffic, the airport handled 335,088 passengers in 2023, increasing to 433,527 in 2024.^[1]

Chetumal International Airport Aeropuerto Internacional de Chetumal
IATA: CTM ICAO: MMCM
Summary
Airport type	Public
Operator	Grupo Olmeca-Maya-Mexica
Serves	Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Time zone	EST (UTC-05:00)
Elevation AMSL	12 m / 39 ft
Coordinates	18°30′16.8″N 88°19′36.65″W
Website	grupoolmecamayamexica.com.mx/aeropuertos/aeropuerto_chetumal.html
Map
CTM Location of airport in Quintana Roo Show map of Quintana Roo CTM CTM (Mexico) Show map of Mexico
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 10/28 2,208 7,244 Asphalt
Statistics (2024)
Total passengers 433,527 Ranking in Mexico 41st 1
Source: Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil[1]

History

Since its early years, multiple airlines have operated at Chetumal International Airport, with Aerocaribe serving as a major operator that later evolved into MexicanaClick, operating at the airport until its bankruptcy in 2010. Interjet, Aviacsa, and ALMA de Mexico also provided services during the 2000s, each facing bankruptcy in their respective times.

In an effort to fill the void left by MexicanaClick, Aeromexico attempted to take over services. However, the competitive pricing of Interjet rendered Aeromexico's operations to Chetumal financially unsustainable.^[2] The airport underwent significant renovations and a runway and passenger terminal expansion in 2011.^[3] Despite Aeromexico ending its service to Chetumal in 2013, it resumed in 2020 through Aeromexico Connect.^[4][5]

From 1974 to 2023, Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares (ASA) managed the airport. However, in 2023, airport management transitioned to Grupo Olmeca Maya Mexica, aligning with the López Obrador administration's controversial strategy to involve the armed forces in significant infrastructure projects. This militarization trend has impacted various initiatives, including the Tren Maya, where the Chetumal Airport Train Station is projected as the terminus for the Cancún-Chetumal line, also serving as Chetumal's primary train station. Additionally, it played a role in the attempted revival of Mexicana de Aviación, which initially announced flights to Chetumal, temporarily canceled the service^[6] and finally launched them in December 2023.^[7]

Facilities

Terminal map

The airport is situated at an elevation of 12 metres (39 ft) above mean sea level, covering an area of 230 hectares (570 acres). It features a single asphalt runway, designated as 10/28, measuring 2,208 metres (7,244 ft). The commercial aviation apron spans 13,140 square metres (141,400 sq ft), featuring two parking positions for narrow-body aircraft and additional stands for general aviation. Official operating hours are from 7:00 to 19:00.

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 with car rental services, taxi stands, and several retail stores. Before security, there is a small selection of shops plus a ScotiaBank ATM. The departures concourse includes two gates with direct access to the apron, allowing passengers to board their planes by walking to the aircraft. There are also Cafe 747 selling hot food, a kiosk serving sandwiches and cold drinks, and a small shop with a range of snacks and gifts. Adjacent facilities include parking areas, civil aviation hangars, administration offices, courier and logistic facilities, and facilities for general aviation.

Currently under construction on the airport grounds is a Tren Maya station called Chetumal Airport railway station (Spanish: Estación de Chetumal Aeropuerto), aiming to establish connectivity with Tulum International Airport, Cancun International Airport, and other key tourist destinations in southeastern Mexico.^[8]

Chetumal Naval Air Base (Spanish: Base Aeronaval de Chetumal) is a facility of the Mexican Navy located at the eastern end of the airport grounds. The base hosts the following units:

• 1st Patrol Naval Air Squadron – operating Lancair Super ES, MX-7-180A, RC695
• 3rd Air Mobility, Observation and Transport Naval Air Squadron – operating Mi-8

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

Airlines	Destinations
Aeroméxico	Mexico City
Aeroméxico Connect	Mexico City
Aerus	Cancún
Mexicana de Aviación	Mexico City–AIFA
Viva	Mexico City, Mexico City–AIFA
Volaris	Mexico City

Destinations map

Chetumal

Cancún

Mexico City

Mexico City-AIFA

Destinations from Chetumal International Airport
Red = Year-round destination
Blue = Future destination
Green = Seasonal destination

Statistics

Passengers

Chetumal Airport Passengers. See Wikidata query.

Busiest routes

Busiest routes from Chetumal International Airport (2023)^[9]

Rank	City	Passengers	Ranking	Airline
1	Mexico City, Mexico City	160,375		Aeroméxico Connect, Viva Aerobus, Volaris
2	State of Mexico, Mexico City-AIFA	626		Mexicana de Aviación

Accidents and incidents

On January 6, 1972, a Hawker Siddeley HS.748-230 belonging to SAESA (Servicios Aereos Especiales Airlines) crashed shortly after take-off from Chetumal on its way to Mérida, killing five crew members and 18 passengers.^[10]

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
• List of beaches in Mexico
• Riviera Maya
• Tren Maya
• Chetumal Airport railway station

References

1. "Estadística Operacional de Aeropuertos / Statistics by Airport". Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
2. "Mexicana Wins Legal Shield to Aid Mexican Bankruptcy". Bloomberg. August 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
3. Arranca modernizacion del Aeropuerto Internacional de Chetumal "Arranca modernización del Aeropuerto internacional de Chetumal. | MarQtips". Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013 (In Spanish)
4. No más vuelos de aeroméxico en Chetumal Archived February 9, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved on March 31, 2013 (In Spanish)
5. "Exclusive: Aeroméxico will fly to Chetumal from June" (in Spanish). Transponder 1200. March 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
6. "Mexicana De Aviación To Rely On Military Aircraft For The Start Of Its Commercial Launch ?".
7. "Mexicana begins ticket sales; TAR will operate 6 destinations". El Financiero (in Spanish). 22 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
8. "Cancun Airport's Link to Maya Train: Construction Set to Start Soon".
9. "Estadística operacional por origen-destino / Traffic Statistics by City Pairs" (in Spanish). Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil. January 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
10. "Accident". Aviation Safety Network. January 1972. Retrieved 3 April 2020.

External links

• Media related to Aeropuerto de Chetumal at Wikimedia Commons
• Official Website
• Grupo Olmeca Maya Mexica
• Aeronautical chart and airport information for MMCM at SkyVector
• Current weather for MMCM at NOAA/NWS
• Accident history for CTM at Aviation Safety Network
• Chetumal Airport information at Great Circle Mapper
• Tren Maya's independent website
• Tren Maya's official website (Spanish)