Bajío International Airport

León/Bajío International Airport
Aeropuerto Internacional del Bajío
Summary
Airport typePublic
Owner/OperatorGrupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico
ServesLeón, Guanajuato, Mexico
LocationSilao, Guanajuato, Mexico
Focus city forVolaris
Time zoneCST (UTC−06:00)
Elevation AMSL1,815 m / 5,955 ft
Coordinates20°59′36″N 101°28′51″W / 20.99333°N 101.48083°W / 20.99333; -101.48083
Websitewww.aeropuertosgap.com.mx/en/guanajuato-3.html
Map
BJX is located in Guanajuato
BJX
BJX
Location of the airport in Guanajuato
BJX is located in Mexico
BJX
BJX
BJX (Mexico)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
13/31 3,499 11,480 Asphalt
Statistics (2025)
Total passengers3,301,500
Ranking in Mexico10th Steady
Source: Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico[1]

León/Bajio International Airport (Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional de León/Bajío); officially Aeropuerto Internacional de Guanajuato (Guanajuato International Airport) (IATA: BJX, ICAO: MMLO), is an international airport situated in Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico. It is the main international airport serving the Greater León Metropolitan Area and the State of Guanajuato, which is home to a population of 6 million residents, including the cities of Celaya, Guanajuato, Irapuato, Salamanca, and San Miguel de Allende. In addition to offering domestic flights within Mexico, it serves as a gateway for international travel, connecting Central Mexico to various destinations in the United States. It serves as a focus city for Volaris and supports flight training, cargo, logistics and general aviation activities.

Operated by Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP), Bajío Airport derives its name from the cultural region "El Bajío" (the lowland), which is situated within the central Mexican plateau. It ranks as the ninth-busiest airport in Mexico in terms of passenger numbers and the seventh-busiest for international passenger traffic.[2] In 2024, the airport served 3,169,000 passengers, a figure that increased to 3,301,500 in 2025, marking a 4.2% growth compared to the previous year and becoming the tenth airport in Mexico to surpass three million passengers in a calendar year.[1]

History

The airport was inaugurated in 1991 by President Carlos Salinas de Gortari, replacing the former San Carlos International Airport located in León.[3] The growing industrial activity in the Bajío region and the massive migration of Mexicans to the United States in recent decades has been reflected in a substantial increase in international air transport demand. In 1999 the terminal went through an expansion project, improving equipment, and enhancing services for passengers. In February 2001, this airport received Air Force One during President George W. Bush's visit to Mexico. On March 23, 2012, the airport welcomed Pope Benedict XVI, who arrived on a direct flight from Rome, Italy, during his first and only visit to Mexico.

At the end of 2015, work began on the construction of a parallel taxiway along the entire length of the runway. In August 2016, the airport opened its first and only VIP lounge, while modernization and expansion work in the departure area and the entire terminal began, including the relocation of the customs and immigration checkpoint. Work was completed in mid-2018. Throughout its history, the airport has been served by various airlines, including Aeromar, Aviacsa, Calafia Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Delta Connection, Interjet, Mexicana, TAESA, and TAR Aerolíneas.

Facilities

Passenger terminal map
Passenger terminal entrance

The airport is located between the cities of León and Silao in Guanajuato, at an elevation of 1,815 metres (5,955 ft) above mean sea level. It has a single runway, designated as 13/31, with a length of 3,500 metres (11,500 ft) and an asphalt surface. The commercial aviation apron provides nine stands for receiving narrow-body aircraft. The general aviation apron offers stands for fixed-wing aircraft, in addition to heliports for private aviation. The airport also includes a cargo area called "Puerto Interior," which connects the airport with a freight rail and motor transportation hub.[4][5] It is equipped to handle up to 26 flights per hour.

The passenger terminal accommodates both arrivals and departures for domestic and international flights. The ground floor houses the arrivals area with customs and immigration facilities, the baggage claim area, and the departures section that includes a check-in area, a security checkpoint, and a departures concourse with gates 4-6 that provide direct access to the apron, enabling passengers to walk to their aircraft. From this departure concourse, access to the upper floor is available, which houses snack bars, souvenir shops, and gates 1 to 3, which are equipped with jet bridges for boarding.

Bajío Airport currently lacks direct public transportation services, requiring travelers to use other transport options. The airport provides both short-term and long-term parking facilities. Car rental services are available on-site, with rental counters for Hertz, Budget, Veico, and City Car Rental located in the arrivals hall.[6]

For intercity bus travel, Primera Plus and Unebus offer services to various destinations including León, San Miguel de Allende, Silao, Guanajuato, Purísima del Rincón, and San Francisco del Rincón. From León, passengers can connect to various destinations across Mexico. Advanced bookings can be made through shuttle services listed on local tourist websites, such as Viva Aerobus, Primera Plus, and Unebus.

Passenger terminal entrance

Airlines and destinations

Passenger terminal entrance
Airport view from Highway 45D
Departures concourse
Departures concourse
Duty-free shop
Passport control area
Security area
Aeromexico Connect Embraer E190 at BJX
Continental Airlines Boeing 737 at BJX
Volaris Airbus A321-271N at BJX
Aeronaves TSM MD-82(SF) (XA-UTX) at BJX

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
AeroméxicoMexico City–Benito Juárez[7]
Aeroméxico ConnectAtlanta,[8] Mexico City–Benito Juárez[7]
American AirlinesDallas/Fort Worth[8]
American EagleSeasonal: Dallas/Fort Worth[8]
United AirlinesHouston–Intercontinental[8]
United ExpressHouston–Intercontinental[8]
VivaCancún,[9] Chicago–O'Hare,[8] Ciudad Juárez, Dallas/Fort Worth,[8] Houston–Intercontinental,[8] Mérida,[10] Mexico City–Felipe Ángeles[11], Monterrey,[9] San Antonio,[12] Tijuana[9]
VolarisCancún,[9] Chicago–O'Hare,[8] Chicago–Midway,[8] Fresno,[13] Los Angeles,[8] Mexicali,[14] Monterrey,[15] Oakland,[8] Ontario,[16] Puebla (begins June 1, 2026),[17] Puerto Vallarta,[18] Sacramento,[8] San José del Cabo,[9] Tijuana[19]

Destination maps

Domestic destinations from León/Bajío International Airport
Red = Year-round destination
Blue = Future destination
Green = Seasonal destination
International destinations from Bajío International Airport
Red = Year-round destination
Blue = Future destination
Green = Seasonal/charter destination
Italic = Suspended passenger destination

Statistics

Annual traffic

Passenger statistics at Bajío International Airport[20]
Year Total passengers Change %
2008 1,102,800 Steady
2009 886,100 Decrease 19.65%
2010 853,800 Decrease 3.5%
2011 854,200 Increase 0.50%
2012 950,300 Increase 11.30%
2013 998,100 Increase 5.02%
2014 1,222,100 Increase 22.44%
2015 1,492,100 Increase 22.09%
2016 1,711,400 Increase 16.19%
2017 1,955,600 Increase 14.30%
2018 2,323,772 Increase 19.76%
2019 2,746,824 Increase 18.21%
2020 1,387,700 Decrease 49.6%
2021 2,119,000 Increase 52.7%
2022 2,581,976 Increase 23.1%
2023 3,195,946 Increase 23.8%
2024 3,169,000 Decrease 0.8%
2025 3,301,500 Increase 4.2%

Top destinations

Busiest domestic routes from BJX (Jan–Dec 2025)[20]
Rank City Passengers
1 Tijuana, Baja California 303,703
2 Monterrey, Nuevo León 238,688
3 Cancún, Quintana Roo 174,824
4 Mexico City, Mexico City 165,634
5 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco 71,209
6 Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua 56,492
7 Mexico City–AIFA, State of Mexico 35,779
8 San José del Cabo, Baja Califormia Sur 30,451
9 Mexicali, Baja California 23,721
10 Mérida, Yucatán 23,680
Busiest international routes from BJX (Jan–Dec 2025)[20]
Rank City Passengers
1 United States Dallas/Fort Worth, United States 134,500
2 United States Houston-Intercontinental, United States 109,144
3 United States Chicago (O'Hare and Midway, United States)[a] 69,733
4 United States Oakland, United States 39,840
5 United States Los Angeles, United States 32,910
6 United States Atlanta, United States 27,438
7 United States Fresno, United States 19,206
8 United States Sacramento, United States 18,720
9 United States San Antonio, United States 14,068
10 United States San Jose (CA), United States 10,847
Notes
  1. ^ The official statistics combine both O'Hare and Midway airports.

Accidents and incidents

  • On 17 September 2021, a Viva Aerobus Airbus A320-200, registered XA-VAP, experienced an engine failure shortly after takeoff from El Bajío. The aircraft landed safely after circling the airport and burning fuel for 25 minutes.[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "GAP Traffic Report 2025" (PDF). Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico. January 2026. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  2. ^ "Estadística Operacional de Aeropuertos / Statistics by Airport". Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
  3. ^ "Los aeropuertos de León".
  4. ^ "SKYPLUS INDUSTRIAL AND LOGISTICS PARK".
  5. ^ "Puerto Interior".
  6. ^ Veico Car Rental
  7. ^ a b Drillinger, Meagan (November 29, 2023). "Guanajuato is getting hot". Travel Weekly. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Costa, Vinicius (April 28, 2025). "Americans Can Fly Nonstop To These 7 Authentic Colonial Cities In Mexico". Travel Off Path. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  9. ^ a b c d e Goytia, Óscar (December 23, 2025). "Guanajuato's BJX Airport Enters Mexico's Top 10 for Traffic". Mexico Business. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  10. ^ "VivaAerobus to install operating base in Mérida; announces 3 new routes". Mexico News Daily. September 5, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  11. ^ Casey, David (May 26, 2021). "Analysis: US-Mexico market exceeds pre-pandemic levels Aviation Week Network". Aviation Wekk. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  12. ^ Goytia, Óscar (October 4, 2024). "Travel from Mexico City to Guanajuato with Viva Aerobus". San Miguel Post. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  13. ^ Baitinger, Brooke (September 30, 2025). "Dreaming of a fall getaway? We found flights starting at $76 from Fresno airport". Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  14. ^ AM, Redacción (August 10, 2022). "Silao: Falla mecánica en vuelo de Volaris deja a pasajeros varados en Aeropuerto de Guanajuato". Periódico AM (in Spanish). Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  15. ^ Central, Página (February 20, 2025). "Vuelo Bajío-Ontario: Esta es la nueva ruta aérea que estrenará Gto". Página Central (in Spanish). Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  16. ^ Schlepp, Travis (February 13, 2025). "Ontario Airport makes major international service expansion". KTLA. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  17. ^ "Volaris triggers massive expansion with 33 new routes across North America". AviaciOnline. February 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  18. ^ Casey, David (May 30, 2021). "Viva Aerobus plans new US routes | Aviation Week Network". Aviation Week. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  19. ^ "Shocking video shows passengers subduing hijacker on Volaris flight to Tijuana: 'He wanted to escape'". The Times of India. December 10, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  20. ^ a b c "Estadística operacional por origen-destino / Traffic Statistics by City Pairs" (in Spanish). Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil. January 2026. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  21. ^ "VivaAerobus suffers engine failure shortly after take-off Mexican airport". September 19, 2021.
allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guanajuato_International_Airport