The New Terminal Will Help Double Airport Capacity While Reducing Energy Consumption By Over 40%
With an estimated 7.5-year timeframe which incorporates multiple energy saving strategies, the Vallarta airport is projected to reduce energy consumption by 40% and water consumption by 35% compared to other airports of similar characteristics and size. This will be achieved through the addition of approximately 8,000 solar panels on the roof of the building, geothermal batteries, an architectural design that reduces the use of air conditioning, and an effective water management system that reuses 100% of the gray, black, and blue water generated inside and outside of the terminal.
The projected that broke ground in late August of 2022 is reportedly to be completed by October of 2024. An estimated $7-billion peso new expansion project will double the arrival capacity, allowing the Vallarta airport to adequately receive approximately 10-12 million arrivals each year. The addition of terminal two will increase boarding gates from 11 to 19 as well as remote boarding gates from 9 to 16. With these upgrades, passengers can expect waiting areas to be significantly less crowded, and far less changes of departure gates, something that currently happens regularly at Gustavo Diaz Ordaz Airport.
The new structure will include a larger and completely reimagined customs and immigration process to create a more accessible and expedited experience for arriving passengers. The number of documentation counters will be increased from 93 to 151, while security filters will increase from 8 to 18 lines, all of which will help the flow and speed for incoming travelers. Migration modules will also be increased to 30. The new design features a state-of-the-art technology that will allows luggage to be scanned before travelers arrive. This will eliminate the need to drag luggage through the customs line and wait to be called. Facial recognition readers, something that most major international airports currently utilize, will also be an added technological feature for passengers. Once completed, Terminal Two is expected to be over 68,000 square meters, providing large amounts of new space for shopping, restaurants, bars, and lounges. The exterior of the airport will also be getting aa new modern renovation, with resources invested in improving the runway, platforms, streets, roads, parking lot, and control tower.
Construction on the new terminal began on August 29th, 2022, with an estimated two years until completion (October 2024). The project will occur in two stages, one concluding in 2024 and the other between 2025 and 2029. With the new expansion of Puerto Vallarta’s Gustavo Diaz International Airport, it will be a vital international hub on the West Coast of the Americas.
