León/Bajio International Airport (); officially Aeropuerto Internacional de Guanajuato (Guanajuato International Airport) , is an international airport situated in Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico. It is the main international airport serving the Greater León Metropolitan Area and the State of Guanajuato, which is home to a population of 6 million residents, including the cities of Celaya, Guanajuato, Irapuato, Salamanca, and San Miguel de Allende. In addition to offering domestic flights within Mexico, it serves as a gateway for international travel, connecting Central Mexico to various destinations in the United States. It serves as a focus city for Volaris and supports flight training, cargo, logistics and general aviation activities.

Operated by Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP), Bajío Airport derives its name from the cultural region "El Bajío" (the lowland), which is situated within the central Mexican plateau. It ranks as the ninth-busiest airport in Mexico in terms of passenger numbers and the seventh-busiest for international passenger traffic. In 2024, the airport served 3,169,000 passengers, a figure that increased to 3,301,500 in 2025, marking a 4.2% growth compared to the previous year and becoming the tenth airport in Mexico to surpass three million passengers in a calendar year. The growing industrial activity in the Bajío region and the massive migration of Mexicans to the United States in recent decades has been reflected in a substantial increase in international air transport demand. In 1999 the terminal went through an expansion project, improving equipment, and enhancing services for passengers. In February 2001, this airport received Air Force One during President George W. Bush's visit to Mexico. On March 23, 2012, the airport welcomed Pope Benedict XVI, who arrived on a direct flight from Rome, Italy, during his first and only visit to Mexico.

At the end of 2015, work began on the construction of a parallel taxiway along the entire length of the runway. In August 2016, the airport opened its first and only VIP lounge, while modernization and expansion work in the departure area and the entire terminal began, including the relocation of the customs and immigration checkpoint. Work was completed in mid-2018. Throughout its history, the airport has been served by various airlines, including Aeromar, Aviacsa, Calafia Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Delta Connection, Interjet, Mexicana, TAESA, and TAR Aerolíneas.

Facilities

thumb|Passenger terminal map|left

thumb|Passenger terminal entranceThe airport is located between the cities of León and Silao in Guanajuato, at an elevation of above mean sea level. It has a single runway, designated as 13/31, with a length of and an asphalt surface. The commercial aviation apron provides nine stands for receiving narrow-body aircraft. The general aviation apron offers stands for fixed-wing aircraft, in addition to heliports for private aviation. The airport also includes a cargo area called "Puerto Interior," which connects the airport with a freight rail and motor transportation hub. It is equipped to handle up to 26 flights per hour.

The passenger terminal accommodates both arrivals and departures for domestic and international flights. The ground floor houses the arrivals area with customs and immigration facilities, the baggage claim area, and the departures section that includes a check-in area, a security checkpoint, and a departures concourse with gates 4-6 that provide direct access to the apron, enabling passengers to walk to their aircraft. From this departure concourse, access to the upper floor is available, which houses snack bars, souvenir shops, and gates 1 to 3, which are equipped with jet bridges for boarding.

Bajío Airport currently lacks direct public transportation services, requiring travelers to use other transport options. The airport provides both short-term and long-term parking facilities. Car rental services are available on-site, with rental counters for Hertz, Budget, Veico, and City Car Rental located in the arrivals hall.

For intercity bus travel, Primera Plus and Unebus offer services to various destinations including León, San Miguel de Allende, Silao, Guanajuato, Purísima del Rincón, and San Francisco del Rincón. From León, passengers can connect to various destinations across Mexico. Advanced bookings can be made through shuttle services listed on local tourist websites, such as Viva Aerobus, Primera Plus, and Unebus.thumb|Passenger terminal entrance

Airlines and destinations

thumb|Passenger terminal entrance

thumb|Airport view from Highway 45D

thumb|Departures concourse

thumb|Departures concourse

thumb|Duty-free shop

thumb|Passport control area

thumb|Security area

thumb|Aeromexico Connect Embraer E190 at BJX

thumb|[[Continental Airlines Boeing 737 at BJX]]

thumb|[[Volaris Airbus A321-271N at BJX]]

thumb|Aeronaves TSM MD-82(SF) (XA-UTX) at BJX

Passenger

Destination maps

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Statistics

Annual traffic

{| class="wikitable"

|+ Passenger statistics at Bajío International Airport

! Rank

! style=width:22em | City

! Passengers

|-

| 1

| Tijuana, Baja California

| align="right" | 303,703

|-

| 2

| Monterrey, Nuevo León

| align="right" | 238,688

|-

| 3

| Cancún, Quintana Roo

| align="right" | 174,824

|-

| 4

| Mexico City, Mexico City

| align="right" | 165,634

|-

| 5

| Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco

| align="right" | 71,209

|-

| 6

| Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua

| align="right" | 56,492

|-

| 7

| Mexico City–AIFA, State of Mexico

| align="right" | 35,779

|-

| 8

| San José del Cabo, Baja Califormia Sur

| align="right" | 30,451

|-

| 9

| Mexicali, Baja California

| align="right" | 23,721

|-

| 10

| Mérida, Yucatán

| align="right" | 23,680

|}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%" width="align="

|+ Busiest international routes from BJX (Jan–Dec 2025)

See also

  • List of the busiest airports in Mexico
  • List of airports in Mexico
  • List of airports by ICAO code: M
  • List of busiest airports in North America
  • List of the busiest airports in Latin America
  • Transportation in Mexico
  • Tourism in Mexico
  • Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico
  • Metropolitan areas of Mexico
  • San Miguel de Allende
  • Guanajuato (city)
  • Festival Internacional Cervantino

References

  • Official website
  • Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico
  • León/Bajío Airport information at Great Circle Mapper
  • Accident history for BJX at Aviation Safety Network
  • Tourism in Guanajuato
  • Festival Cervantino