Colima Airport

"CLQ" redirects here. For the Australian organisation, see Cherish Life Queensland.
Colima International Airport
Aeropuerto Internacional de Colima
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorGrupo Aeroportuario de la Marina (SEMAR)
ServesColima, Colima, Mexico
LocationCuauhtémoc, Colima, Mexico
Opened12 February 1988 (1988-02-12)
Time zoneCST (UTC−06:00)
Elevation AMSL752 m / 2,467 ft
Coordinates19°16′37″N 103°34′38″W / 19.27694°N 103.57722°W / 19.27694; -103.57722
Websitewww.aeropuertosasa.mx/CLQ
Map
CLQ is located in Colima
CLQ
CLQ
Location of airport in Colima[1]
CLQ is located in Mexico
CLQ
CLQ
CLQ (Mexico)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
07/25 2,300 7,546 Asphalt
Statistics (2025)
Total passengers250,146
Ranking in Mexico44th Increase1
Source: Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil

Colima Airport (Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional de Colima), officially Aeropuerto Internacional Licenciado Miguel de la Madrid (Licenciado Miguel de la Madrid International Airport) (IATA: CLQ, ICAO: MMIA), is an international airport in Colima, Mexico. It handles scheduled passenger flights and general aviation operations. The airport is named after former President of Mexico Miguel de la Madrid and was designated as an international airport in September 2025. It is operated by Grupo Aeroportuario de la Marina under the Secretaría de Marina (SEMAR).

History

Construction and opening (1983-1988)

Construction of the airport began in 1983. The airport's first flight occurred on September 17, 1987, when an Aeroméxico DC-9 transported special guests for Governor Elías Zamora Verduzco's state address.[2] On October 8, 1987, the Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes (SCT) transferred the airport to Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares (ASA) for operational management.[3]

Commercial airline service commenced on February 12, 1988, when Aero California began daily flights connecting Colima with Tijuana, La Paz, Los Mochis, and Guadalajara.[4] President Miguel de la Madrid officially inaugurated the airport on March 11, 1988.[5]

Early operations and route development (1988-2008)

By 1989, Aero California had expanded service to include nonstop flights to Mexico City and Tijuana.[6] On November 24, 1992, regional carrier Aeromar began daily service to Mexico City.[7] By July 1999, Aeroméxico also operated four weekly flights to Mexico City and Tijuana, with Aeromar providing additional daily service as an Aeroméxico Connect partner.[8]

On April 3, 2006, all Aero California operations were suspended by the Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes for administrative and operational deficiencies.[9] The airline resumed service on August 11, 2006,[10] with Colima among the first destinations restored.

On July 23, 2008, Aero California was suspended again due to unpaid debts totaling 259.5 million pesos and never resumed operations.[11] The airport handled 102,896 passengers in 2008, which dropped to 43,610 passengers in 2009, a 57% decline.[12]

Recovery and expansion (2009-2023)

Following Aero California's closure, Aeromar became the primary carrier with service to Mexico City. Volaris entered the market on May 31, 2012, with service to Tijuana.[13] Passenger traffic gradually recovered, reaching 138,962 by 2016.

Aeroméxico launched daily service on September 18, 2017, but discontinued it on June 30, 2018.[14] Volaris added Mexico City service on November 15, 2018, operating three weekly flights. Passenger numbers reached 194,471 in 2019, the highest level prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic reduced passenger traffic to 105,671 in 2020. On February 15, 2023, Aeromar ceased operations after 35 years of service.[15] Aeroméxico resumed service on March 16, 2023,[16] and transferred its service to Felipe Ángeles International Airport on October 5, 2023.[17] The airport handled 201,243 passengers in 2023 and reached a record 212,435 passengers in 2024.

International designation (2025)

On September 18, 2025, the airport was officially designated as international, with management transferred from ASA to Grupo Aeroportuario de la Marina under the Secretaría de Marina (SEMAR).[18] A modernization project valued at 327 million pesos (US$17.5 million) commenced to expand capacity and improve facilities in preparation for international operations.

Facilities

The control tower at CLQ
Passenger terminal landside

The airport is located at an elevation of 752 metres (2,467 ft) and covers an area of 386 hectares (950 acres). It has a single 2,300 metres (7,500 ft) asphalt runway designated 07/25. The apron measures 16,200 square metres (174,000 sq ft) and includes three parking positions for narrow-body aircraft, as well as spaces for smaller aircraft and helicopters.

The passenger terminal is a single-story facility handling both arrivals and departures. The terminal includes parking facilities, a check-in area with ticketing counters, security screening, a baggage claim area, and an arrivals hall with car rental services and taxi stands. The departure concourse has two gates with direct apron access, allowing passengers to board aircraft via walking.

In addition to commercial operations, the airport includes a cargo handling facility, a dedicated general aviation terminal for private and charter flights, and administrative offices.

Departures concourse
Passenger terminal main hall

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
Aeroméxico Connect Mexico City–Felipe Ángeles[19]
Volaris Tijuana[20]
Destinations map
Domestic destinations from Colima International Airport
Red = Year-round destination
Blue = Future destination
Green = Seasonal destination

Statistics

Annual Traffic

Passenger statistics at CLQ[1]
Year Total Passengers change % Cargo movements (t) Air operations
2006 101,634 Steady 75 5,207
2007 142,272 Increase39.98% 230 7,432
2008 102,896 Decrease27.68% 92 7,311
2009 43,610 Decrease57.62% 93 5,233
2010 42,979 Decrease1.45% 242 4,418
2011 61,929 Increase44.09% 89 5,365
2012 106,313 Increase71.67% 100 6,810
2013 108,265 Increase1.84% 80 6,169
2014 114,457 Increase5.72% 105 6,338
2015 113,583 Decrease0.76% 118 6,115
2016 138,962 Increase22.34% 117 5,999
2017 138,441 Decrease0.37% 107 6,132
2018 155,966 Increase12.66% 96 5,999
2019 194,471 Increase24.69% 128 6,311
2020 105,671 Decrease45.66% 36 3,594
2021 143,774 Increase36.05% 47 3,549
2022 169,516 Increase17.90% 48 3,726
2023 201,243 Increase18.72% 0.45 3,422
2024 212,435 Increase5.56% 3 3,937
2025 250,146 Increase17.75% 3 4,070

Busiest routes

Busiest routes from CLQ (Jan–Dec 2025)[21]
Rank Airport Passengers
1 Tijuana, Baja California 93,018
2 Mexico City–AIFA, State of Mexico 25,300

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Estadística Operacional de Aeropuertos / Statistics by Airport". Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  2. ^ "Mañana llega el Primer Vuelo al Aeropuerto de Buenavista" [Tomorrow the first flight arrives at Buenavista Airport]. Diario de Colima (in Spanish). 16 September 1987.
  3. ^ "SCT Entrego Oficialmente el Aeropuerto a ASA" [SCT officially handed over the airport to ASA]. Diario de Colima (in Spanish). 8 October 1987.
  4. ^ "Ayer llegó el Primer Vuelo Comercial al aeropuerto Buenavista" [Yesterday the first commercial flight arrived at Buenavista airport]. Diario de Colima (in Spanish). 13 February 1988.
  5. ^ Cárdenas Rangel, Efrén (12 March 1988). "MMH Inauguró Ayer el Aeropuerto Colima" [MMH inaugurated Colima Airport yesterday]. Diario de Colima (in Spanish).
  6. ^ Aero California Itinerario (PDF) (in Spanish). Aero California. 15 June 1989. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  7. ^ "2 Líneas Aéreas Inician Vuelos Hacia Colima" [2 airlines begin flights to Colima]. Diario de Colima (in Spanish). 25 November 1992.
  8. ^ Aeroméxico Timetable. Aeroméxico. 12 July 1999.
  9. ^ "Ayer por la mañana, un grupo de usuarios de la aerolínea Aerocalifornia se manifestaron" [Yesterday morning, a group of Aerocalifornia users protested]. Diario de Colima (in Spanish). 4 April 2006.
  10. ^ Fuentes González, Arturo (10 August 2006). "La aerolínea Aerocalifornia confirmó que reiniciará operaciones" [Aerocalifornia airline confirmed it will resume operations]. Diario de Colima (in Spanish).
  11. ^ "Suspende la SCT los vuelos de Aerocalifornia" [SCT suspends Aerocalifornia flights]. Diario de Colima (in Spanish). 24 July 2008.
  12. ^ "Estadística Operacional de Aeropuertos / Statistics by Airport" (in Spanish). Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  13. ^ "Abrirá Volaris ruta Colima-Tijuana" [Volaris will open Colima-Tijuana route]. AFmedios (in Spanish). 30 May 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  14. ^ "Volará Aeroméxico de Colima a Ciudad de México" [Aeroméxico will fly from Colima to Mexico City]. Diario de Colima (in Spanish). 2 June 2017.
  15. ^ "Mexico's Aeromar Airlines ceases operations". ch-aviation. 15 February 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  16. ^ "Llegó a Colima primer vuelo de Aeroméxico desde CDMX" [First Aeroméxico flight from CDMX arrived in Colima]. AFmedios (in Spanish). 16 March 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  17. ^ Rainsford, Cat (18 September 2023). "Aeroméxico to expand flights out of CDMX Felipe Ángeles airport". Mexico News Daily. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  18. ^ "Colima airport gets US $17.5M makeover to prepare it for international status". Mexico News Daily. 13 August 2025. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  19. ^ "Aeroméxico to expand flights out of Felipe Ángeles Airport". Mexico News Daily. September 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  20. ^ "Volaris Flights between Tijuana and Colima Remain Operational". Meganoticias (in Spanish). April 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  21. ^ "Estadística operacional por origen-destino / Traffic Statistics by City Pairs" (in Spanish). Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil. January 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miguel_de_la_Madrid_Airport