โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
45
minutes
Domestic โ International
90
minutes
Interline Connections
120
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
San Antonio Copalar Airport (CJT), also known by its ICAO code MMCO, is a significant aviation facility serving the city of Comitรกn de Domรญnguez in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. Historically a regional hub for civilian traffic, the airport underwent a major transition in 2003 when civil aviation operations were officially suspended due to shifting regional demand. Today, the facility acts as a critical military installation, serving as the 17th Air Force Base (Base Aรฉrea Militar No. 17) for the Mexican Air Force.
The airport's infrastructure is now primarily tailored to military and government operations rather than standard commercial passenger traffic. There is no longer a public passenger terminal with retail or dining amenities; instead, the facility houses administrative offices, barracks, and specialized hangars for the Mexican Air Force. The airfield features a well-maintained 1,800-meter asphalt runway that is used for surveillance, logistical support, and national security missions in the southern frontier region of Mexico. While the facility is closed to regular commercial airlines, it remains a vital node for government flights and emergency services in Chiapas.
Currently, San Antonio Copalar primarily facilitates military transport, reconnaissance flights, and essential government logistics. Its role is fundamental to the security and stability of the southern Mexican border region, providing a rapid aerial link for the deployment of personnel and supplies. While no scheduled commercial services are offered at CJT, travelers looking for air links to the region typically utilize the nearby Palenque International Airport (PQM) or the major hub at Tuxtla Gutiรฉrrez (TGZ). Ground transportation into central Comitรกn is served by local taxis and military shuttles, and the airfield remains a restricted-access site critical to the national defense infrastructure of Mexico.
๐ Connection Tips
San Antonio Copalar Airport (CJT) should be treated as a military or restricted-use facility rather than as a real passenger airport option for ordinary travel. For practical purposes, anyone heading to Comitรกn, the Lagunas de Montebello area, or the southeastern Chiapas highlands needs to build the trip around Tuxtla Gutiรฉrrez or another functioning civilian gateway and then treat the road journey into Comitรกn as the actual connection. That overland leg is the real planning problem, not anything inside CJT.
This matters because road distance in Chiapas can consume more of the day than first-time visitors expect. If your trip begins with an international arrival into Mexico City or another hub and then continues onward through Tuxtla, the safe strategy is to keep the airline connection protected there and avoid building an over-optimistic same-day chain all the way into Comitรกn.
For travelers ending the trip in the Comitรกn region, the airport question is therefore mostly a negative one: do not plan on CJT as a live commercial option. Instead, plan the landside transfer from Tuxtla deliberately, especially if your destination is farther into the highlands or near the Guatemalan side of the state. CJT works best in planning terms when it is treated as unavailable to ordinary passengers. The realistic route is through Tuxtla plus road transport, with the timing risk protected at the actual commercial airport rather than at a military field.
โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
45
minutes
Domestic โ International
75
minutes
International โ Domestic
75
minutes
International โ International
90
minutes
Interline Connections
120
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Aeropuerto Internacional General Juan N. รlvarez (ACA), commonly known as Acapulco International Airport, serves as a crucial gateway to Mexico's popular tourist destination on the southern Pacific coast. The airport underwent a complete modernization in 2018, resulting in a single, modern terminal building designed for efficient passenger movement and capable of handling up to 1.3 million passengers annually. This contemporary terminal services both domestic and international flights, streamlining the travel experience.
The terminal is a two-story facility. The upper level is dedicated to departures (Salidas), housing check-in counters for airlines like Volaris, Aeromรฉxico, and Viva Aerobus. The lower level is for arrivals (Llegadas), where passengers will find baggage claim areas and car rental counters, along with exits to ground transportation. The compact and intuitive layout ensures easy navigation, with all essential services and amenities integrated within this single structure, eliminating the need for complex inter-terminal transfers.
Amenities at ACA are well-appointed for a tourist-focused international airport. These include VIP lounges for eligible passengers, a variety of shops (featuring Duty-Free and local Mexican artisanal crafts), numerous cafes and restaurants offering both local cuisine and international options, currency exchange points, ATMs, and baggage packing services. The airport's modern infrastructure and passenger-friendly facilities contribute to a comfortable and efficient travel experience.
๐ Connection Tips
Connecting through Acapulco International Airport involves navigating Mexico's Pacific coast tourism gateway handling 228 monthly arrivals from 8 worldwide destinations with Volaris dominating operations through 19 weekly departures to Mexico City representing 44% of total weekly flights, while Aeromรฉxico provides SkyTeam alliance connectivity and VivaAerobus serves secondary cities including Tijuana, Guadalajara, and Monterrey alongside Mexico City's Felipe รngeles Airport. The airport's 2018 modernization created a single efficient terminal with 1.3 million annual capacity featuring upper-level departures (Salidas) and lower-level arrivals (Llegadas) enabling streamlined passenger processing for Mexico's premier beach resort destination.
Domestic connections through Mexico City's Benito Juรกrez International Airport provide comprehensive access to Aeromรฉxico's extensive Latin American network and domestic routes throughout Mexico, while Volaris's budget-friendly operations connect to over 70 destinations across Mexico, Central America, and the United States. International connections focus on major North American gateways including American Airlines' Dallas-Fort Worth hub enabling Oneworld alliance access, United Airlines' Houston Intercontinental service providing Star Alliance connectivity, and Air Transat's 5-hour 10-minute Montreal flights supporting Canadian winter tourism covering 2,486 miles to Quebec.
Ground transportation coordination includes taxis and collective vans serving Acapulco's famous Zona Dorada hotel district, La Costera beachfront, and historic downtown areas, while car rental agencies including major international brands enable independent exploration of Guerrero state's Pacific coastline extending to neighboring resort destinations. Weather considerations during Mexico's hurricane season (June-November) can significantly impact Pacific coast operations with potential flight cancellations and delays, while the airport's modern terminal amenities including VIP lounges, duty-free shopping featuring Mexican artisanal crafts, and local cuisine restaurants support comfortable passenger experiences. The facility's strategic importance to Acapulco's tourism economy ensures reliable connections supporting one of Mexico's most iconic beach destinations serving international leisure travelers and domestic business passengers connecting through the country's primary aviation hubs.
โ Back to San Antonio Copalar Airport