Queretaro Airport Business model. Proposal to update the Airport Master Plan

Abstract

Mexico transported in 2018 over 97.3 million passengers on its 77 airports in the country, from which 64 are international, with an average growth rate of 7.6% respects 2017. Particularity, Queretaro International Airport has shown a very significant growth, handling almost 95 thousand passengers in 2006 towards over one million passengers in 2018 according to Civil Aviation Authorities. Furthermore, in the last years Queretaro city and its suburbs have been developing into a strong industrial region together with an aeronautical cluster; this is as an initiative of Mexican Government which gather more than 80 manufacture aeronautical enterprises such as General Electric, Bombardier, Grupo Safran and Aernova, amongst others. There is one of the biggest Maintenance, Repairing and Over hall (MRO) service facilities of Latin America which belong to Aeromexico and Delta Airlines. In addition, research, educational and training institutions supply high trained personnel to the industry. These unique characteristics of Queretaro airport make suitable for study, particularly an analysis of the main current and potential characteristics of the business development of the region through the growth model of the airport. Therefore, the work aims to highlight the potential aspects of the airport business model and the need to cope with it though an Airport Master Plan (AMP) based on a long-term vision strategy towards 2040-2050. The approach integrates the international, national and regional trends related to aviation, and the perspective of global growth as driver of connectivity for commercial and cargo aviation. It has been found that the airport has an interesting and challenging portfolio of activities and market opportunities. Based on the economic activities in the region and the good landside connectivity to Mexico City the passenger and cargo traffic at Queretaro Airport have good potential for growth either via local based home carrier providing connections within Mexico and to major international destinations including long haul. The airport has a solid infrastructure base, a long runway capable to accommodate almost all aircraft types for domestic and international traffic and cargo; MRO services, aircraft parts manufacturing facilities, an aviation university as well as the development of commercial services for passengers and in the surrounding communities. Queretaro Airport is capable to move fast based on its current portfolio of activities, facilities, and scheduled modifications of the terminal, etc. We can assume that airlines will be looking for new opportunities to serve the Mexican market at large and the Mexico City area in particular. Dedicated airlines marketing, to speed up development of landside commercial services (hotel, landside transportation to Mexico City) will position Queretaro Airport to benefit from this new development.