Ensenada International Airport Aeropuerto Internacional de Ensenada | |||||||||||
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Summary | |||||||||||
Airport type | Military/Public | ||||||||||
Operator | Secretariat of National Defense | ||||||||||
Serves | Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico | ||||||||||
Built | 1942 | ||||||||||
Time zone | PST (UTC−08:00) | ||||||||||
• Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC−07:00) | ||||||||||
Elevation AMSL | 20 m / 66 ft | ||||||||||
Coordinates | 31°47′43″N116°36′09″W / 31.79528°N 116.60250°W | ||||||||||
Map | |||||||||||
Runways | |||||||||||
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Statistics (2023) | |||||||||||
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Source: Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil |
Ensenada International Airport (Spanish : Aeropuerto Internacional de Ensenada); officially Aeropuerto Internacional Gral. Alberto L. Salinas Carranza(Gral. Alberto L. Salinas Carranza International Airport)( IATA : ESE, ICAO : MMES) is an international airport located in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. Designated as Air Force Base No. 3 for the Mexican Air Force, it serves not only as a military facility but also facilitates commuter flights within the Baja California peninsula and supports general aviation activities for Ensenada. Operated by the Mexican Department of Defense, the airport is named after Alberto L. Salinas Carranza, a distinguished Mexican aviator who played a significant role in the Mexican Revolution.
In 1942, the airport was established as El Ciprés Military Airfield. In 1955, it officially became an Air Force Base under the administration of President Ruiz Cortines. Throughout its history, the airport has primarily focused on military operations. Passengers traveling within Mexico usually use Tijuana Airport, located 80 kilometres (50 mi) north of Ensenada, while those heading to the United States and other international destinations use San Diego International Airport, located 110 kilometres (68 mi) to the north.
During President Calderón's administration, ambitious plans were made for a new international airport, with an estimated initial investment of $230 million Mexican pesos. [1] However, the construction did not materialize. In 2016, the Baja California State Congress passed a bill for the construction of Ensenada Airport, located in the Municipality of Ojos Negros, east of the city, but the project has not been realized. [2]
Currently, the airport primarily supports military activities, along with air taxi flights and commuter services to destinations within the Baja California peninsula. It also serves as a base for flight training activities conducted by the flight school Instituto Aeronáutico del Noroeste.
The airport is situated at an elevation of 20 metres (66 ft) above mean sea level, within the Ensenada urban zone, and is accessible through its main entrance on Federal Highway 1, commonly referred to as the Carretera Transpeninsular (Transpeninsular Highway). It features a single asphalt runway, designated as 11/29, measuring 1,491 metres (4,892 ft), and multiple aprons catering to both military aircraft and general aviation.
Air Force Base No. 3 (Spanish : Base Aérea Militar No. 3 El Ciprés) (B.A.M. 3) provides facilities for Mexican Air Force personnel, including housing units, hospitals, pharmacies, schools, and administrative offices. Aviation facilities serve as the home of Squadron 106, which currently operates Cessna 182 aircraft. Adjacent to the apron and hangars, other facilities include a command center for the Federal Aviation Administration, a base command center, a cafeteria, an airport command center, Immigration and Customs services, as well as workshops for aviation mechanics and electronics. The airport operates from 08:00 to 18:00.
Airlines | Destinations |
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Aéreo Servicio Guerrero | Guerrero Negro, Isla de Cedros, Tijuana |
Tijuana International Airport ; officially Aeropuerto Internacional General Abelardo L. Rodríguez(General Abelardo L. Rodríguez International Airport), is an international airport located 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) northeast of Downtown Tijuana. It serves Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, and the Metropolitan Area of San Diego-Tijuana, home to a population of five million inhabitants. The airport serves an extensive network of 42 domestic destinations including most of the major and secondary cities across Mexico. It is a hub for Volaris and a focus city for Viva Aerobus. Additionally, the airport houses facilities for the Mexican Air Force and supports cargo flights, tourism, flight training, and general aviation activities. Operated by Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, the airport is named after General Abelardo L. Rodríguez, President of Mexico from 1932 to 1934. It is Mexico's westernmost airport and second-northernmost airport after Mexicali International Airport.
Hermosillo International Airport ; officially Aeropuerto Internacional General Ignacio L. Pesqueira(General Ignacio L. Pesqueira International Airport), is an international airport situated in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. It handles both national and international air traffic for the Hermosillo metropolitan area. It also houses military facilities for the Mexican Army and supports logistics and cargo airlines. Additionally, it facilitates various activities related to tourism, flight training, and general aviation. It functions as a focus city for the regional airline TAR Aerolíneas.
Tampico International Airport (Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional de Tampico); officially Aeropuerto Internacional General Francisco Javier Mina(General Francisco Javier Mina International Airport) (IATA: TAM, ICAO: MMTM) is an international airport situated in Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico. It manages air traffic for the metropolitan area of Tampico, including Ciudad Madero and Altamira, handling both national and international flights. The airport also accommodates military facilities and supports logistics, cargo, flight training, and general aviation activities. Operated by Grupo Aeroportuario Centro Norte, it is named after General Javier Mina, a key figure in Mexico's War of Independence.
Mazatlán International Airport, (Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional de Mazatlán); officially Aeropuerto Internacional General Rafael Buelna(General Rafael Buelna International Airport) (IATA: MZT, ICAO: MMMZ) is an international airport located in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico. It serves as the primary international gateway to Mazatlán, a popular Mexican tourist destination, offering flights to and from Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The airport also facilitates various tourism-related activities, flight training, and general aviation. Owned by Grupo Aeroportuario Centro Norte (OMA), it is named after Rafael Buelna, a military figure who played a significant role in the Mexican Revolution.
Chihuahua International Airport (Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional de Chihuahua); officially Aeropuerto Internacional General Roberto Fierro Villalobos(General Roberto Fierro Villalobos International Airport) (IATA: CUU, ICAO: MMCU) is an international airport located in Chihuahua, Mexico. It handles both national and international air traffic for the city of Chihuahua and is operated by Grupo Aeroportuario Centro Norte. The airport was named after Roberto Fierro Villalobos, an aviator pilot of the Mexican Air Force known for his role during the Mexican Revolution. In addition to serving national and international passengers, Chihuahua Airport accommodates military facilities for the Mexican Army and supports logistics and cargo airlines. It also facilitates various tourism, flight training, and general aviation activities.
Zacatecas International Airport ; officially Aeropuerto Internacional General Leobardo C. Ruiz(General Leobardo C. Ruiz International Airport) is an international airport situated in Morelos, Zacatecas, Mexico. It manages national and international air traffic in the metropolitan area of Zacatecas and the entire state of Zacatecas. In addition to commercial flights to Mexico and the United States, it also supports various tourism, flight training, executive, and general aviation activities. Operated by Grupo Aeroportuario Centro Norte (OMA), the airport is named in honor of Leobardo C. Ruiz, a military and diplomatic figure. In 2021, the airport handled 375,930 passengers, and in 2022, it saw an increase to 433,952 passengers.
Guaymas International Airport ; officially Aeropuerto Internacional General José María Yáñez(General José María Yáñez International Airport) is an international airport located in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico. It handles national and international air traffic for the city of Guaymas. Named after General José María Yáñez, a 19th-century military leader, the airport is operated by Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares, a federal government-owned corporation. In 2021, it handled 5,369 passengers, and in 2022, the number increased to 5,921.
Oaxaca International Airport(Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional de Oaxaca) officially Aeropuerto Internacional Xoxocotlán(Xoxocotlán International Airport)(IATA: OAX, ICAO: MMOX) is an international airport located in the municipality of Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, a southern suburb of Oaxaca City, Mexico. It handles national and international air traffic for the Metropolitan Area of Oaxaca and a significant portion of the State of Oaxaca. The airport is operated by Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste (ASUR) and derives its name from the Nahuatl word "xocotl," meaning "sour or sweet and sour fruit."
Mexicali International Airport ; officially Aeropuerto Internacional General Rodolfo Sánchez Taboada(General Rodolfo Sánchez Taboada International Airport) is an international airport located 20 kilometers east of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, near the U.S.-Mexico border. It is the northernmost airport in Mexico and serves the metropolitan area of Mexicali and the transborder region of Calexico-Mexicali. In addition to domestic flights within Mexico, the airport also facilitates domestic and international charter flights, flight training, and executive, and general aviation activities.
La Paz International Airport ; officially Aeropuerto Internacional Manuel Márquez de León(Manuel Márquez de León International Airport) is an international airport located in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, situated along the western shore of the Gulf of California. It serves as the primary air traffic gateway to the city of La Paz and is a focus city for the regional airline Calafia Airlines. The airport also accommodates military facilities for the Mexican Army and the Mexican Navy and supports various tourism, flight training, and general aviation activities. Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico owns and operates the airport, and it is named in honor of Manuel Márquez de León, a Mexican politician, military leader, and intellectual originally from this state. The airport served as the headquarters and hub for Aero California from its foundation in 1960 until its bankruptcy in 2006.
Chetumal International Airport is an international airport located in Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico, near the Belize–Mexico border. It serves domestic flights for Chetumal and the southern Quintana Roo region, while also supporting various executive and general aviation activities, and hosting Mexican Navy facilities. Since 2023, the airport has been operated by Grupo Olmeca-Maya-Mexica (OMM), a holding company owned by the Mexican military. In terms of passenger traffic, the airport handled 279,525 passengers in 2021, with an increase to 374,152 passengers in 2022.
Campeche International Airport ; officially Aeropuerto Internacional Ing. Alberto Acuña Ongay(Ing. Alberto Acuña Ongay International Airport) is an international airport located in Campeche, Campeche, Mexico. It serves domestic flights for the city of Campeche and supports various executive and general aviation activities. Since 2023, the airport has been operated by Grupo Olmeca-Maya-Mexica (OMM), a holding company owned by the Mexican military, it handled 134,601 passengers, and in 2022 it handled 144,013 passengers.
Guerrero Negro Airport is an airport situated in the municipality of San Quintín, Baja California, Mexico. The facility serves regional flights and supports general aviation activities in Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
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Cabo San Lucas International Airport is an international airport located in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico. It serves as a secondary airport to the popular tourist destination of the Los Cabos region on the Baja California Peninsula. In contrast to the larger Los Cabos International Airport situated approximately 32 kilometres (20 mi) to the north, Cabo San Lucas Airport primarily focuses on regional flights within western Mexico, as well as charter and commercial flights to the United States. It operates as the main hub for the regional airline Calafia Airlines. The airport also supports various activities in general and executive aviation, air taxi services, and flight training. It is the only privately-owned international airport in the country. The airport handled 45,178 passengers in 2021 and 40,714 passengers in 2022.
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