{"id":2502,"date":"2026-05-21T05:53:33","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T05:53:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/?p=2502"},"modified":"2026-05-21T05:53:33","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T05:53:33","slug":"world-cup-host-racing-to-finish-500-million-airport-renovation-before-games-begin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/?p=2502","title":{"rendered":"World Cup host racing to finish $500 million airport renovation before games begin"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"main\">\n<div class=\"hydrate-root sc-1ihz57b-0\" data-component=\"Newsletter\" data-loading=\"lazy\" data-theme-name=\"independent\">\n<div data-theme-wrapper=\"independent\" style=\"display:contents\">\n<aside class=\"sc-y4bm30-0 jwWhkK newsletter-component sc-1ge0fwe-0\" data-newsletter-key=\"receiveInsideSportNews\">\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-2 kcLSBk\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/newsletters\/InsideSport1_1.png\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Inside Sport\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE\"\/><\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-1 inRDZn\">\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-3\">\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-4 hfveGa\">\n<p><h3 class=\"sc-y4bm30-5 sc-y4bm30-6 fvoxRM cLEJmn\">Inside Sport newsletter: Get an expert guide to the biggest moments shaping the world of sport<\/h3>\n<h3 class=\"sc-y4bm30-5 sc-y4bm30-8 fvoxRM iTZFOX\">Get our free Inside Sport newsletter<\/h3>\n<h3 class=\"sc-y4bm30-5 sc-y4bm30-7 fvoxRM iGYpOF\">Get our free Inside Sport newsletter<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p><svg class=\"sc-eaj12q-0 hKcUSR sc-culv3z-0 eifaJK sc-1ix0cah-0 PYnPb sc-y4bm30-10 fUEDPX\"><use href=\"#600f53465147d717\"\/><\/svg><\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-2 kcLSBk sc-y4bm30-9 iQYNfz\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/newsletters\/InsideSport1_1.png\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Inside Sport\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>As Mexico prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, thousands of passengers arriving at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/mexico-city\">Mexico City<\/a>\u2019s Benito Ju\u00e1rez International <a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/airport\">Airport<\/a> are currently navigating a chaotic construction site. <\/p>\n<p>Buzzing drills, scattered pipes, and unfinished flooring greet travellers, a stark contrast to the numerous posters promoting the upcoming football tournament and large-scale figures of balls and trophies that dot the terminals. These festive decorations aim to distract from the year-long renovations.<\/p>\n<p>Luis Ibarra, a 28-year-old engineer, seated near one of the six cranes still operating at Terminal 1, expressed little concern about the ongoing work. He noted that the airport has long suffered from issues such as flooding, leaky roofs, and severe overcrowding, making the upgrades a necessity. <\/p>\n<p>Airport authorities told <em>The Associated Press<\/em> that over 3,000 people are working 20 hours a day to complete one of the largest <a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/renovation\">renovation<\/a> projects at Mexico\u2019s busiest airport.<\/p>\n<p>The undertaking has not been without its difficulties. Juan Jos\u00e9 Padilla, general director of Benito Ju\u00e1rez International Airport, told <em>the AP <\/em>that complications have been &#8220;more than we expected&#8221; a year into the renovation, despite the first phase being over 90 per cent complete. <\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-awdjp1-2 cbpRGD sc-awdjp1-3 image align-center\">\n<figure class=\"sc-1cbdeug-0 cXcwgU\">\n<div class=\"sc-awdjp1-0 bnjbrn\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2026\/05\/20\/20\/47\/AP26139863007460.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2026\/05\/20\/20\/47\/AP26139863007460.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=320&amp;auto=webp 320w, https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2026\/05\/20\/20\/47\/AP26139863007460.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=640&amp;auto=webp 640w\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Security enhancements are a key part of the renovation, with the number of cameras increasing from 2,200 to over 4,000\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"sc-1cbdeug-1 sc-1cbdeug-3 YlsWU hgzWpY\">Security enhancements are a key part of the renovation, with the number of cameras increasing from 2,200 to over 4,000<span class=\"sc-1cbdeug-7 gjqsiM\"> <!-- -->(<!-- -->AP<!-- -->)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>He attributed these unexpected challenges to half-century-old infrastructure and a lack of original blueprints for certain areas. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We are facing years of neglect,&#8221; Mr Padilla stated, acknowledging that decades of underinvestment had impacted the terminals, which handle approximately 120,000 passengers daily.<\/p>\n<p>Against this backdrop, a $500m (\u00a3395m) modernisation project commenced in May 2025. This substantial investment is entirely funded by the airport itself, which has been administered by the Mexican Navy since 2023. Project coordinator Capt. Arturo Flores detailed that the extensive upgrade includes new terminal facades, renovated restrooms, refreshed baggage carousels, and the replacement of nearly 100,000 square metres of flooring and lighting. <\/p>\n<p>An internal redesign has also reclaimed 30,000 square metres of waiting space for travellers. The second phase of work is scheduled to begin in August, following the World Cup, and continue until December.<\/p>\n<p>Security enhancements are also a key part of the renovation, with the number of cameras increasing from 2,200 to over 4,000. These new cameras will utilise artificial intelligence to detect suspicious vehicles, luggage, or individuals. Mr Padilla also confirmed that an anti-drone system is expected to be installed shortly to address any potential contingencies.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this month, Mexico\u2019s foreign ministry announced an agreement with the US Department of Transportation to reinforce the 2015 bilateral transportation pact through a new series of measures. These include expanding the number of slots \u2013 specific windows allocated for aircraft takeoffs and landings \u2013 which Washington had requested for US airlines. <\/p>\n<p>During the previous administration, available slots at the capital\u2019s airport were cut from 61 to 43 per hour, before rising slightly to 44 last year. Mr Padilla reported that the number of slots available to both foreign and domestic airlines will soon be increased to 46.<\/p>\n<p>This latest airport upgrade represents a significant initiative by President Claudia Sheinbaum, following a turbulent period under her predecessor, Andr\u00e9s Manuel L\u00f3pez Obrador. His attempt to reroute capital flight operations to a new, military-run airport in a different location ultimately failed to gain traction.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Inside Sport newsletter: Get an expert guide to the biggest moments shaping the world of&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2503,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2502","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2275710399-1.jpg",1200,800,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2275710399-1-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2275710399-1-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2275710399-1-768x512.jpg",640,427,true],"large":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2275710399-1-1024x683.jpg",640,427,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2275710399-1.jpg",1200,800,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2275710399-1.jpg",1200,800,false],"covernews-slider-full":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2275710399-1-1115x715.jpg",1115,715,true],"covernews-slider-center":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2275710399-1-800x500.jpg",800,500,true],"covernews-featured":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2275710399-1-1024x683.jpg",1024,683,true],"covernews-medium":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2275710399-1-540x340.jpg",540,340,true],"covernews-medium-square":["https:\/\/betreview.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2275710399-1-400x250.jpg",400,250,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/?author=1"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/betreview.net\/?cat=6\" rel=\"category\">Sports<\/a>","tag_info":"Sports","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2502","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2502"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2502\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2503"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2502"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2502"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/betreview.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2502"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}