Ciudad del Carmen International Airport

Ciudad del Carmen
International Airport
Aeropuerto Internacional de
Ciudad del Carmen
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorGrupo Aeroportuario Marina
ServesCiudad del Carmen, Campeche, Mexico
Opened1944
Time zoneCST (UTC−06:00)
Elevation AMSL3 m / 10 ft
Coordinates18°39′13″N 091°47′56″W / 18.65361°N 91.79889°W / 18.65361; -91.79889
Websitewww.aeropuertosasa.mx/CME
Map
CME
Location of airport in Campeche
CME
CME (Mexico)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
13/31 2,200 7,218 Asphalt
Statistics (2025)
Total passengers292,917
Ranking in Mexico43rd
Source: Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil[1]

Ciudad del Carmen International Airport (Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional de Ciudad del Carmen) (IATA: CME, ICAO: MMCE) is an international airport located in Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, Mexico. It manages both national and international air traffic for the city of Ciudad del Carmen and western Campeche. The airport serves as a gateway for helicopter services within an industrial corridor connecting mainland Mexico to offshore oil fields in the Gulf of Mexico. It also supports cargo flights and various executive and general aviation activities. However, the recent contraction in oil industry activity in the area has had a negative impact on the airport's operations.[2]

Operated by Grupo Aeroportuario Marina (GAM), a federal government-owned holding company,[3] the airport handled 292,917 passengers in 2025, which was a 8% decrease from previous year.[1]

History

Before the construction of the current airport, Ciudad del Carmen operated Carranza Airport, which provided services for Mexicana de Aviación on the Veracruz-Villahermosa-Ciudad del Carmen-Mérida route since 1928.

The current airport was built in 1942, and it became operational on February 23, 1944, under an agreement with the United States to monitor the area during World War II. The construction cost of the airport was 9 million pesos. Its management became part of Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares (ASA) in 1965.

The oil production boom and infrastructure development associated with the oil industry in the Gulf of Mexico significantly increased operations at the airport. For many decades, the airport offered services to other industrial cities in the Gulf region like Villahermosa, Poza Rica, and Reynosa, major cities like Monterrey, Guadalajara, and Cancun, and international flights to Houston by Continental Express, primarily serving the oil industry market.

Reaching a peak of 661,901 passengers in 2015, the airport has since experienced a decline with the downturn in oil and petrochemical activities in the region.[4] In 2017, United Express canceled service to Houston. Despite a mild rebound in 2019, only 342,737 passengers passed through Ciudad del Carmen in 2023.[1]

Facilities

The airport is situated at an elevation of 3 metres (9.8 ft) above sea level, covering an area of 192 hectares (470 acres). It features a single asphalt runway, designated as 05/23, measuring 2,200 metres (7,200 ft) in length. The commercial aviation apron spans 10,484 square metres (112,850 sq ft), featuring three stands for narrow-body aircraft. Official business hours are from 7:00 to 19:00.

The passenger terminal, a single-story structure, caters to both domestic and international arrivals and departures. The departure facilities include check-in areas, a security checkpoint, and a departure concourse with two gates with direct access to the apron. The arrivals section features customs and immigration facilities, a baggage claim zone, and an arrivals hall with car rental services, taxi stands, and several retail stores. Adjacent facilities include parking areas, civil aviation hangars, cargo facilities, and spaces for general aviation.

Within the airport facilities, an independent terminal and a heliport with multiple helipads and hangars serve air connections catered for Pemex, connecting Ciudad del Carmen with offshore oil fields in the Gulf of Mexico. This heliport ranks as the number one in Mexico in terms of flight hours.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
Aeroméxico Mexico City–Benito Juárez[5]
Aeroméxico Connect Mexico City–Benito Juárez[5]
Aerus Minatitlán/Coatzacoalcos,[6] Veracruz[6]

Helicopter services

AirlinesDestinations
Apoyo Logístico Aéreo A subsidiary of Cotemar, is responsible for transporting its personnel and cargo to its own offshore platforms or those in the Strait of Campeche.
Asesa Provides air transportation services for personnel and cargo, as well as maintenance, guardianship, and custody services.
Heliservicios Campeche Local air transportation company involved in transporting personnel and local cargo
Helivan Provides air transportation services in both helicopters and airplanes to CEOs and senior executives of public and private companies.
Transportes Aéreos Pegaso Specialists in executive flights and transportation of personnel to rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.

Destinations map

Destinations from Ciudad del Carmen International Airport
Red = Year-round destination
Blue = Future destination
Green = Seasonal destination

Statistics

Annual Traffic

Passenger statistics at CME[1]
Year Total Passengers change % Cargo movements (t) Air operations
2006 497,579 691 51,958
2007 566,500 13.85% 618 57,450
2008 586,950 3.60% 593 56,037
2009 558,642 4.82% 506 56,634
2010 507,386 9.17% 485 50,139
2011 516,205 1.73% 389 51,139
2012 587,339 13.78% 503 57,983
2013 548,941 6.53% 396 49,281
2014 661,901 20.57% 424 59,591
2015 623,154 5.85% 384 56,058
2016 459,497 26.26% 340 36,750
2017 362,795 21.04% 330 32,065
2018 362,663 0.04% 373 33,337
2019 401,316 10.66% 436 35,921
2020 260,074 35.19% 207 34,318
2021 322,401 23.96% 365 42,923
2022 339,294 5.24% 394 42,248
2023 342,737 1.01% 337 41,559
2024 318,782 6.99% 343 43,016
2025 292,917 8.11% 386 29,625

Busiest routes

Busiest routes from CME (Jan–Dec 2025)[7]
Rank Airport Passengers
1 Mexico City, Mexico City 86,527
2 Minatitlán/Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz 384
3 Veracruz, Veracruz 32

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Estadística Operacional de Aeropuertos / Statistics by Airport". Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  2. ^ "Air traffic decreases in Ciudad del Carmen" (in Spanish). February 2017. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  3. ^ "AICM to Assume Control of Six Airports Under 2025 Agreement". Mexico Business News. June 2025. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  4. ^ "Volaris drops flights to Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche".
  5. ^ a b "Aeromexico Busiest Domestic Routes in 2025". Aviation A2Z. September 2025. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  6. ^ a b "Route Networks". Aerus. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  7. ^ "Estadística operacional por origen-destino / Traffic Statistics by City Pairs" (in Spanish). Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil. January 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  • Media related to Ciudad del Carmen International Airport at Wikimedia Commons
  • Official Website
  • Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares
  • Ciudad del Carmen Airport information at Great Circle Mapper
  • Aeronautical chart and airport information for MMCE at SkyVector
  • "Current weather for MMCE". NOAA/NWS.
  • Accident history for CME at Aviation Safety Network
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