Mexico City is to get a huge new international airport following an announcement by President Enrique Pena Nieto to grant a $9.23 billion project.
Speaking in his annual state-of-the-nation address, the President called it "Mexico’s largest infrastructure project in recent years, and one of the largest in the world," which will be built on state owned land adjacent to the existing city airport.
The new airport will have six landing strips and accommodate up to 120 million passengers a year, which is a four-fold increase on the existing airport.
Calling it "Mexico’s gateway to the world," Pena Nieto said a new airport is needed to keep pace with growing demand for air travel and also drive further development.
"The current saturation restricts communication within the country, limits Mexico’s connectivity to the world, restrains trade and investment, and creates delays for users," he added.
Pena Nieto did not say when construction would begin but more details are expected today when the proposal is officially unveiled to the public.
