Palenque International Airport
Palenque International Airport Aeropuerto Internacional de Palenque | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Operator | Grupo Olmeca-Maya-Mexica | ||||||||||
| Serves | Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico | ||||||||||
| Time zone | CST (UTC-06:00) | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 50.3 m / 165 ft | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 17°32′06″N 092°00′54″W / 17.53500°N 92.01500°W | ||||||||||
| Website | grupoolmecamayamexica | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  PQM  PQM | |||||||||||
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| Runways | |||||||||||
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| Statistics (2023) | |||||||||||
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Source: Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil[1] | |||||||||||
Palenque International Airport (Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional de Palenque) (IATA: PQM, ICAO: MMPQ) 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 4,028 passengers in 2023.[1]
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.[2] The airport was declared international in 2016.[3]
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.[4]
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 [5]
Facilities
[edit]The airport is situated at an elevation of 50 metres (160 ft) above mean sea level, covering an area of 201 hectares (500 acres). It features a single asphalt runway, designated as 10/28, measuring 2,500 metres (8,200 ft). The commercial aviation apron spans 6,479 square metres (69,740 sq ft), 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 (Spanish: Estación de Palenque), situated 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) 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.[6]
Airlines and destinations
[edit]Passenger
[edit]| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Mexicana de Aviación | Mexico City–AIFA[7] |
Destinations map
[edit]Domestic destinations from Palenque International Airport Red = Year-round destination Blue = Future destination Green = Seasonal destination |
See also
[edit]- 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
[edit]- ^ a b "Estadística Operacional de Aeropuertos / Statistics by Airport". Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- ^ ".:Portal SCT:.: Estadística". Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
- ^ "SCT da a conocer la declaración de internacionalización del Aeropuerto de Palenque". gob.mx. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
- ^ "Estadística Operacional de los Aeropuertos de la Red ASA" (in Spanish). January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ^ "Got 1 min? Palenque airport reopens with Mexicana flight". mexiconewsdaily.com. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ "Mexico's Tren Maya project opens next section to Palenque". Railway Technology. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ "Mexicana begins ticket sales; TAR will operate 6 destinations". El Financiero (in Spanish). 22 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
External links
[edit]- Official Website
- Grupo Olmeca Maya Mexica
- Aeronautical chart and airport information for MMPQ at SkyVector
- Current weather for MMPQ at NOAA/NWS
- 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)
