Airport guide
AICM Terminal 1 or Terminal 2: how to tell, and how to move between them
Mexico City's airport has two terminals in two separate buildings, and people find this out at the worst possible moment. You cannot walk from one to the other. Here is how to know which one you need, how to cross if you are in the wrong one, and how much time to leave.
Last checked: October 2026
Which terminal is mine?
The split follows airline alliances more than anything else. Terminal 2 is the SkyTeam building: Aeroméxico and Delta. Terminal 1 has American, United and most other international carriers, along with a long list of domestic and low-cost airlines.
Airlines do move between terminals, and when one does, every guide on the internet is wrong until it is updated — including this one. Your boarding pass states the terminal. That is the source to trust.
If you are being picked up, send the terminal and not just the flight number. A driver waiting in the wrong building is the same as no driver at all.
The Aerotrén: free, five minutes, one condition
A small automated train links the two terminals. It is free, the ride takes under five minutes, and it runs from 05:00 to 23:00.
The condition is that you must show a valid boarding pass for the same day, printed or on your phone. It was built for passengers connecting between flights, and that rule is enforced — not a formality you can talk your way around.
| From | Where to board |
|---|---|
| Terminal 1 | Puente de Pilotos — up the escalators in Concourse D |
| Terminal 2 | Concourse M, next to the domestic boarding area |
No boarding pass? Take the inter-terminal bus
If you have not checked in yet, if you are meeting someone, or if the Aerotrén is not running, the red inter-terminal buses do the same job with no boarding pass required.
| Terminal | Where the bus stops |
|---|---|
| Terminal 1 | Near Door 7 |
| Terminal 2 | Near Door 4 |
It takes longer than the train — it drives on public roads, so traffic counts — and it is the option that catches people out on time. A taxi between terminals also works and is quick, but you are paying for a very short trip.
How much time to leave
- Crossing terminals with the Aerotrén: allow 30 minutes door to door, not five. The ride is short; finding the platform, queueing and walking the concourses is not.
- Crossing by bus: allow 45 to 60 minutes, more in rush hour.
- A connection that changes terminal: treat it as leaving and re-entering the airport. You clear security again on the other side.
If your itinerary has you landing in one terminal and departing from the other on a separate ticket, that is not a connection — it is two trips. Nobody will hold the second flight for you.
And the other airport
Mexico City is served by a second airport, Felipe Ángeles (AIFA), roughly 50 km north of the city and entirely separate from AICM. There is no train or quick shuttle between the two — crossing from one to the other is a road trip of well over an hour in normal traffic.
Check the airport code on your ticket, not just the city. AICM is MEX; AIFA is NLU.
Frequently asked questions
Can I walk between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 at Mexico City airport?
No. They are separate buildings several kilometres apart. Use the Aerotrén if you have a boarding pass for that day, or the inter-terminal bus if you do not.
Is the Aerotrén free?
Yes, it is free. The only requirement is a valid same-day boarding pass, printed or digital, which is checked before you board.
Which terminal does Aeroméxico use?
Terminal 2, along with Delta. American and United are in Terminal 1, as are most other international airlines. Confirm on your boarding pass, since airlines do occasionally move.
How long does it take to change terminals?
Allow about 30 minutes using the Aerotrén and 45 to 60 by bus, counting the walk to the platform or stop. The train ride itself is under five minutes.
Is AIFA the same as Mexico City airport?
No. AIFA (code NLU) is a separate airport about 50 km north of the city. AICM (code MEX) is the one most international flights use. Getting them confused means an expensive hour on the road.
Being met at the right terminal
Tell us the flight and we track it. Your chauffeur waits in the arrivals hall of the terminal you actually land in, with your name on a sign — and waits at no extra charge if the flight is late.
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