Puebla Airport vs. Mexico City Airport: Which is better?

Puebla Airport vs. Mexico City Airport: Which is better?

If you live in Puebla or Tlaxcala, you have probably asked yourself this question: Should I fly from here or go to Mexico City? There is no single answer; it all depends on your destination, your budget, and, above all, how much you value your time.

Here we analyze all the possible scenarios to give you the best information and comparisons.

1. Time and distance

This is the most critical point. The difference in logistics is enormous.

• Puebla scenario: You leave home an hour before your appointment and arrive calmly. The airport is small, so you can walk from the entrance to the boarding gate in less than 10 minutes.
• AICM scenario: You must leave at least 5 or 6 hours in advance. An accident in the Río Frío area or traffic on Calzada Ignacio Zaragoza could cause you to miss your flight.

2. Connectivity and destinations

This is where the AICM has the advantage. While Puebla Airport is ideal for specific routes, Mexico City Airport is a global hub.

Puebla Airport: Ideal for direct flights to Cancun, Monterrey, Tijuana, and Guadalajara. It is also excellent for connecting to Houston (United), which opens the door to the entire US and Europe without passing through the capital.

AICM: You have access to more than 100 direct destinations. If you're going to Europe, South America, or Asia, the AICM is a must. In addition, flight frequency is higher; if you miss one, there will probably be another one in two hours. In Puebla, if you miss your flight to Tijuana, you may have to wait until the next day.

Vamos a los números. A veces el vuelo en CDMX es $500 MXN más barato, pero ¿realmente ahorras?

3. Costs

Scenario A: You are traveling from Puebla (PBC)

• Transportation: Uber ($400) or Estrella Roja ($100).
• Parking: $150 MXN per day.
• TUA (Airport Usage Fee): Generally lower than in Mexico City.
• Total indirect costs: Very low.

Scenario B: You are traveling from Mexico City International Airport

• Transportation: Estrella Roja/ADO bus from Puebla ($470 MXN one way). Total round trip: $940 MXN.
• Parking: $378 MXN per day (official rate for 2025).
• Time: You lose a day of your life on the round-trip.
• Total indirect cost: High.

Savings verdict: If the flight from Mexico City International Airport is only $800–$1,000 MXN cheaper than from Puebla, it is better to fly from Puebla. What you save on the ticket, you will spend on the bus and meals while waiting in Mexico City.

4. Experience and comfort

• Puebla (PBC): It's like a default “VIP” airport. There are no long lines at security, the bathrooms are usually cleaner, and the atmosphere is quiet. It's perfect for families with children or older adults who can't walk long distances.
• AICM: It's chaotic. Terminals 1 and 2 are crowded, there's constant noise, the waiting rooms are often full, and walking from one gate to another can take 20 minutes.

5. Operational capacity and efficiency: Which is faster?

Although the AICM is the giant of Latin America, its size is also its greatest weakness.

• Puebla (PBC): This is a single-terminal airport. The average time from getting out of the car to arriving at the final waiting area is only 15 to 20 minutes. The baggage claim process usually takes between 10 and 15 minutes maximum, as there are only a couple of carousels operating simultaneously.
• AICM (Mexico City): This is a complex with two terminals (T1 and T2) connected by an internal train (Aerotren). The security process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour during peak times. Baggage claim is a gamble: you can expect to wait anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour if the flight is coming from an international destination or if the carousel is full.

6. Connectivity with other points of interest

If you are a traveler coming from outside the region, your arrival airport will completely change your itinerary:

• From Puebla (PBC): You are only 20 minutes from San Pedro Cholula (the oldest living city in America) and 30 minutes from Val'Quirico (the Tuscan-style town). If your goal is cultural or gastronomic tourism in the state, arriving here saves you half a day of logistics.
• From AICM: You have to cross the entire eastern exit of Mexico City. If you land at 6:00 PM, be prepared for a 3-hour odyssey just to get out of the capital's metropolitan area and take the highway to Puebla.

7. The price war: food and money “trickling down.”

One factor that many people forget when comparing ticket prices is incidental expenses within the terminal.

1. Food: At the AICM, prices are inflated due to high demand. A fast food combo meal can cost 20-30% more than in the city. At the Puebla airport, prices are more stable and closer to what you would pay at a local shopping center.
2. Internet: Wi-Fi at the AICM is often unstable due to saturation from thousands of connected users. In Puebla, with fewer people, the signal is usually faster and more reliable for those who need to work while waiting.

8. The "Don Goyo" factor

This is the only area where the AICM tends to win in terms of operational reliability.

• PBC vulnerability: Due to its proximity (approx. 30 km) to the Popocatépetl crater, Puebla Airport is the first to close when there are ash emissions. Ash is highly abrasive to aircraft turbines, so even the slightest fall means operations are suspended for safety reasons.
• Resilience of the AICM: Although it can also close due to ash (as has happened in recent years), its greater distance allows it to operate more frequently even when Puebla Airport is closed.

Final comparison table: Puebla vs. CDMX

💡 Golden tip (that nobody asked for, but will be helpful to you)

If the price of your flight from Puebla (PBC) is the same or up to $1,200 MXN more expensive than from Mexico City International Airport (AICM), continue to choose Puebla.

Why? Because when you add the cost of the round-trip bus to Mexico City ($940 MXN), extra meals during the wait, and the risk of missing your flight due to a highway blockade, the "savings" of Mexico City disappear completely.

Puebla is the airport of convenience; Mexico City International Airport is the airport of necessity.

Which one should you choose for your trip?

Choose Puebla Airport if:

• You are traveling to Cancun, Monterrey, Tijuana, Guadalajara, or Houston.
• You are traveling with a lot of luggage or young children.
• You do not want to risk the traffic on the Mexico-Puebla highway.
• You are going to leave your car parked for several days (significant savings).

Choose Mexico City International Airport if:

• You are traveling to an international destination (outside the US) or an uncommon domestic destination (e.g., Mérida, Oaxaca, Huatulco).
• You found an “irresistible” flight deal (more than $1,500 MXN difference).
• You need many schedule options (flying early in the morning or late at night).

📌 Share this post

If this article helped you make up your mind, share it with your travel buddy! Help us show more people how convenient it is to fly direct to Puebla Airport.

Published on Jan 08, 2026