A Grupo Carso consortium has been awarded a €3.9bn ($4.1bn) contract to build a huge new 743,000sq m four-level terminal building at Mexico City Airport, which along with a new six-runway airfield will represent Latin America’s biggest infrastructure works currently under construction.

 

The new airport – which will feature ‘a large central shopping area on the third floor – has been designed by architects Norman Foster and Fernando Romero in the shape of an ‘X’ for construction in the Federal District of Lake Texcoco.

 

It is being built over a 4,430-hectare area on a 44-month construction deadline and is scheduled to open in 2020.

 

HUGE PROJECT CARRIES A TIGHT DEADLINE

The winning consortium is now charged with the challenge of having all six runways open for ‘simultaneous operation’ from day one at a new facility capable of handling a total of 70m passengers a year.

 

In addition to Grupo Carso, the consortium also comprises Spanish companies FCC and Acciona, plus local Mexican construction companies ICA, GIA, Prodemex and the Hermes Infrastructure group.

 

Arrivals, baggage reclaim and all services relating to ground handling and the baggage handling system will be located on the first floor. This level will also include access to the car park, the flight information area, the short stay car park and access to the Metro from the Ground Transportation Centre.

 

 

LARGE THIRD FLOOR SHOPPING AREA

The second floor will be used for international arrivals, immigration and the flight transfer area. As mentioned, departures will be located on the third floor which will have a large central shopping area, departure passageways and an area reserved for pre-clearance. Lastly, the fourth floor will include a car park, the check-in area and security control.

 

All of the developers point out that the surface area of the terminal roof will be double the size of that in Terminal 4 of Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport. It will also comprise aluminium sheets and ceramic glass to channel rainwater, wind and sunlight through pipes and photosensitive systems in order to be used inside.

 

The entire construction project is expected to create around 160,000 jobs, and around 450,000 permanent positions when it is finally in full operation. Ultimately, the airport will be transporting ‘around 125m passengers a year’, according to the consortium.