Grupo Aeroportuario: Cleared for Takeoff

Grupo Aeroportuario (OMAB) operates 13 airports in Central and Northern Mexico as local state awarded monopolies. These facilities were privatized in 1998 and OMAB thus avoided all initial airport construction costs (while agreeing to pay for any future capital expenses that may arise). The company generates about 80% of its revenues through per-passenger, take-off and landing fees with the remainder coming from parking fees, retail royalties and other concessions. In some regions they also own contiguous land that might be profitably developed in the future.

Some of OMAB’s most prominent airports serve Monterrey, Mexico’s third largest city, as well as popular tourist areas like Mazatlan and Acapulco. 80% of OMAB’s traffic is from domestic flights. Its route between Monterrey and Mexico City is the most highly travelled route in all of Mexico. Commercial competition is banned by the government and OMAB is commissioned to operate all their current airports through 2048.