One issue that portends to cast a shadow over the early days of the incoming Mexican presidency is the construction of the new Mexico City airport, which according to recent reports (and who you believe) is somewhere between one-fifth and one-third complete.
One of the country’s biggest ever pubic works, budgeted at around $US13 billion, the airport is seen by the Mexican business community as an essential piece of infrastructure that will provide a significant boost to the nation’s economy and international competitiveness.
President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador frequently criticized the project during his campaign, highlighting its excessive cost, environmental hazards and potential for corruption.
Since winning the election, however, he has moderated his stance and ordered a public “referendum” to determine the future of the project, scheduled to take place over four days, October 25-28, in 538 municipalities.
While considered an exercise in democracy by some, the public consultation has been slammed by many others, including former President Vicente Fox (2000-2006), who saw efforts to build a new airport during his administration thwarted by a prolonged – and violent – campaign of opposition. “The (vote) is not right,” he told reporters this week. “The government should take these decisions and not pass the buck. We have an airport (under construction) in which we are investing ten billion dollars. Where the hell is all this money (already spent) going?” Fox said.
Committed to spending billions of dollars on programs to help the country’s poorest citizens over the next six years, as well as building a major oil refinery in his home state of Tabasco, Lopez Obrador has made it clear that he is unwilling to earmark a substantial portion of the federal budget to a project that more than anything benefits the middle and elite classes. While he hasn’t publicly announced that he will ditch the project, he has floated several alternative ideas, such as maintaining the existing – more centralized – facility, while converting the capital’s military Santa Lucía airfield to a commercial airport to increase passenger capacity. Another plan raised by Lopez Obrador this week would be to hand over the remaining financing of the new airport to the private sector. He mentioned that telecom magnate Carlos Slim, Mexico’s richest person, who owns businesses already involved in the construction of the airport, might be willing to form a consortium to finance the remainder of the project. The president-elect did not say how this might affect the operational and ownership aspects of the project; under existing conditions the new airport will be under the complete control of the federal government. (The current funding model sees 60 percent of the airport coming out of Mexican government coffers, with the remaining 40 percent made up from bank loans and debt security.)
The argument that the airport will only benefit Mexico’s economic elite is a theme that has been taken up by civic activists opposed to the project. The land on which the airport is being built lies to the northeast of the capital and, according to some sources, was acquired by the federal government over two decades through a series of obscure deals. Many of the original owners of the communal (ejido) land, including indigenous Nahuas, had their rights abused in the process, anti-airport groups say.
In addition, environmentalists argue that the construction of the airport will destroy a major aquifer and endanger at least 250 bird species, among other issues.
The airport
Mexico City’s new airport (often referred in the media as NAICM) was designed in collaboration between Pritzker award-winning architect Norman Foster, whose works include Beijing Capital International Airport and the Hong Kong International Airport, and renowned Mexican architect Fernando Romero, who just happens to be Slim’s son-in-law.
When the final work is completed, it will consist of six runways, two main terminals and two satellite terminals, with an eventual capacity to handle 125 million passengers, making it the second largest airport in the world.
Work on the airport started in 2016 and the first phase of its operation is anticipated in 2020. This stage will allow for a passenger capacity of up to 68 million (compared with 41 million at the current airport), and one terminal of 743,000 square meters, featuring 96 gate bridges and 68 remote bridges. Three runways will allow triple-simultaneous landing and taking off. The terminal’s lightweight glass and steel roof is shaped to resemble an x – a reference to the letter in the country’s name, while its vaulted form draws on traditional Mexican architecture and symbolism.
Lopez Obrador has said the decision taken in October’s vote will be binding.