Benito Juárez International Airport completed a $500 million renovation just before the World Cup kicks off in Mexico City. The 97-year-old facility, designed for 32 million passengers annually but handling 45 million, received cosmetic upgrades including new murals, flat screens, and expanded waiting areas. Airport officials insist the work will accommodate the expected 3-4 million visitors during the six-week tournament.

The rushed renovation follows a controversial 2018 decision by former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to cancel a $13 billion airport project one-third complete, opting instead for the $4 billion Felipe Ángeles International Airport. That facility handled only seven million passengers last year, fueling criticism that Mexico lacks adequate infrastructure for its largest city and growing economy.

Industry experts argue the upgrades amount to little more than "band-aids" on an aging facility reaching "a collapsing point." Peter Cerdá of the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association warns the airport cannot sustain projected 6 percent annual passenger growth without major expansion. Critics point to the pedestrian bridge collapse last week as evidence of rushed construction.

Mexican Navy officials counter that operational improvements include 60 new automated boarding pass readers, upgraded bag scanners cutting security times to seven minutes, and facial-recognition systems. While these upgrades earned approval to increase hourly flights to 46, the airport still operates well below its 2022 peak of 61. The renovations may suffice for the World Cup, but Mexico's aviation infrastructure remains inadequate for long-term demand.