Queretaro’s Intercontinental Airport, safe and reliable

Queretaro Intercontinental Airport (AIQ) is one of the safest and most reliable airports in Mexico. It is the first airport in the country to have ICAO/AFAC certification in its technical-operational areas and also the first to be re-certified for the fourth consecutive time. In 2020 it obtained Level 1 Airport Carbon Accreditation, as well as Levels 1 and 2 of ISO 14064-1:2006 certification. It also received the Safe Travels seal, an international insignia for complying with all hygiene protocols for safe travel. In September 2021 it hosted the Mexican Aerospace Fair, the largest in LATAM.

To learn more about AIQ, we interviewed Marco Antonio Del Prete Tercero, Secretary of Sustainable Development of the Executive Branch of the State of Queretaro:

 

The AIQ began operations in 2004. Do you consider that this was a turning point; a government vision that led Bombardier, Safrán and other international companies to decide to establish themselves in Querétaro?

The start of operations of the AIQ was a fundamental part to initiate the accelerated growth of the aerospace industry in the state of Queretaro, detonating the attraction of direct foreign investment in double digits that placed the state in the list of aeronautical poles at a national level. The airport is the articulating agent that provides very high level mobility for passengers and finished products. It not only represents an element of connectivity, it is also a space that generates competitiveness for the attraction of investments and with it the growth of Queretaro.

 

What is the current capacity of AIQ in terms of flights and destinations, both commercial, private and cargo, and what will be its capacity in 5 years?

Currently there are 32 operations per hour, which will increase to 48 in 2024 with the installation of the primary and secondary radars. In addition, wide-body operations will be further facilitated with the installation of ILS Cat I in 2025. Today we have 45% general aviation operations, 35% commercial passengers and 20% cargo, but this composition will change by increasing the share of commercial passenger and cargo operations with the investment being made to expand the terminal to 2.5 times the current passenger capacity and an additional 50% in cargo positions. In addition, we are working on the project for a new terminal building that will double the current capacity and is planned to be ready by 2025.

 

In order to guarantee safety in your facilities and operations, what measures do you employ in terms of protocols, training, professionalization, etc.?

In addition to the aforementioned, which involves increasing safety in air operations, we have a permanent training and professionalization program for our most valuable resource, our personnel. Likewise, we are in the process of acquiring more equipment and technology that will be put into operation in 2024, in addition to continuing to strengthen the technological and human resources that AIQ has.

 

Could you tell us what are the competitive advantages of AIQ with respect to other airports relatively close to the CDMX, in terms of infrastructure and location?

Queretaro Airport is among the top 5 airports in Mexico in terms of domestic and international cargo movement. It has an infrastructure growth of 50% in the passenger terminal building and more than 150% in the Cargo Terminal. AIQ has the third largest runway in the country, its dimensions are 3.5 km x 45 m which, considering the distance of the headers, gives a total length of 4.2 km. Its location in the center of the country, only 20 minutes from the city of Querétaro, facilitates its access by land in a safe way, 10 km from Highway 57 that connects the Bajío with Mexico City.

It currently operates domestic and international destinations and has five service areas: private and commercial passenger aviation, cargo aviation, MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul), aeronautical industry, technical education and research and innovation services.

Do you consider that AIQ has the capacity to receive intercontinental flights, i.e. from Europe, UK or Asia?

Yes, AIQ has the infrastructure to attend any aircraft that intends to operate in it; proof of this is that we have received aircraft such as B747 with 340 passengers, Antonov 124 and A380-800 (the largest commercial passenger aircraft in the world) with an average capacity for 520 passengers, which has been received in five occasions.