The Dark Side of Aeromobilities: Unplanned Airport Planning in Mexico City

Abstract

Land-use conflicts, noise and health problems, local air pollution, decreased urban quality and affected liveability are considered amongst the core impacts and consequences associated with global airports, all of which have largely been individually documented. Through a case study of Mexico City International Airport (MCIA), this article argues that a more integrated focus that brings such various issues and perspectives together is needed in order to widen the understanding of the existing relationship between socio-spatial and environmental effects, increased aeromobility, airport siting conflicts, airport urban surroundings and globalization. The present study of MCIA suggests that local players and airports are not just passively influenced by processes of globalization and aeromobilities, but also that such processes disentangle a wide array of socio-spatial and environmental consequences that depend on ad hoc local contexts. Hence, the article follows the argument that a much stronger focus on the planning process of airports is needed at local and regional scales, while a larger debate regarding the regulation of increased global aviation ought to be raised in national and international contexts.