General Abelardo L. Rodríguez International Airport (TIJ)

General Abelardo L. Rodríguez International Airport (IATA: TIJ, ICAO: MMTJ) holds the unique distinction of being the world's only binational airport, strategically located five kilometers northeast of downtown Tijuana while simultaneously serving passengers from Southern California through its revolutionary Cross Border Xpress (CBX) terminal. This groundbreaking facility, officially opened in December 2015, features a 4,200-square-meter terminal building in San Diego connected to the main airport via a 120-meter enclosed pedestrian bridge that spans the international border, enabling U.S. passengers to access Mexico's extensive domestic flight network without traditional border crossing procedures.

The airport operates a single 2,960-meter (9,711-foot) asphalt runway capable of handling wide-body aircraft, supporting the facility's role as Mexico's fourth-busiest airport with over 8 million annual passengers. The runway's substantial length accommodates both domestic and international operations, including transpacific routes and long-haul flights to Central and South America. Adjacent to the runway, modern parallel taxiways and an ultramodern air traffic control tower ensure efficient aircraft movement and airspace management for the complex binational operations.

The main terminal complex features two concourses with 23 gates strategically divided between international arrivals (Concourse B) and departures (Concourse A), providing streamlined passenger flow for both domestic Mexican travelers and international passengers utilizing the CBX facility. In 2022, the New Transit Processing Building (NEP) opened as a significant expansion, specifically designed to handle cross-border passengers entering from San Diego via the CBX bridge. This facility provides comprehensive immigration processing, customs clearance, airline check-in services, and security screening before passengers access the main departure concourse through the international bridge connection.

The CBX terminal revolutionizes cross-border travel by allowing approximately one-third of Tijuana Airport's passengers to bypass traditional land border crossings, with the facility processing travelers who purchase CBX access passes in addition to their airline tickets. The bridge crossing typically takes 3-5 minutes and operates with dedicated U.S. customs and immigration facilities on the San Diego side, while Mexican authorities process passengers on the Tijuana side. This unique arrangement makes Tijuana Airport particularly attractive to Southern California residents seeking access to Mexican domestic destinations and competitive international fares, while also serving as an alternative gateway for travelers avoiding the congestion of Los Angeles-area airports.