[6] The airport is served by more than 25 airlines, handling flights to over 100 destinations across Mexico, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

The original site, known as Llanos de Balbuena, had been utilized for aeronautical activities since 1910, marking a significant milestone when Alberto Braniff became the first person to fly an airplane in Mexico and Latin America.

On November 30, 1911, President Francisco I. Madero achieved another aviation first by being the world's inaugural head of state to fly on an airplane, piloted by Geo M. Dyott of Moisant International.

[citation needed] From 1949 to 1951, the airport underwent an expansion that involved the construction of a new runway, designated as 05R-23L, an apron, a control tower, and administration offices.

[15] In the 1970s, the two shortest runways (13/31 and 5 Auxiliary) were closed to facilitate the construction of a social housing complex in that area, named Unidad Fiviport.

On November 24, 1978, the Mexico City Area Control Center (ACC) commenced its operations and has been in continuous service since then.

The proximity of the two parallel runways restricts fully simultaneous operations, contributing significantly to the constraint.

[20][21] Mexicana, a key player in the country's aviation industry, initiated a decentralization effort to alleviate congestion at the airport.

[23] In 2002, President Vicente Fox's administration introduced an ambitious plan for a new expansive airport covering 5,000 hectares (12,000 acres) in the municipalities of Atenco and Texcoco.

Renovations included new check-in areas, commercial spaces, a new departures concourse, and the construction of a long-distance bus terminal.

The bus station provided access to a food court, the international arrivals and departures area, and a pedestrian bridge connecting to "The Peñón de los Baños" neighborhood.

Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, political initiatives aimed at establishing nearby airports such as Puebla, Toluca, Cuernavaca, and Querétaro as supplementary options for serving the Mexico City Area were introduced.

[25]In 2014, Mexican authorities declared the airspace around Mexico City Airport saturated, setting a maximum capacity of 61 operations per hour from 7:00 to 23:59.

[30][31][32] However, President López Obrador, then a candidate, campaigned against Texcoco Airport, leading to a divisive political discourse.

[33]Upon assuming the presidency, López Obrador´s administration initiated a controversial referendum to gauge public opinion on completing Texcoco Airport or proceeding with the Santa Lucía expansion.

On July 23, 2020, an extension of Terminal 2, named Pier L, was inaugurated, adding 7 gates to reduce the use of buses.

Surrounded by the built-up areas of Gustavo A. Madero borough to the north and Venustiano Carranza borough to the west, south, and east, the airport's runways, running southwest–northeast, contribute to overflying problems and noise pollution over Mexico City during landings with a northeast wind.

The field itself spans 747 hectares (1,850 acres), featuring two parallel runways, less than 300 metres (980 ft) apart, hindering simultaneous operations.

North of the airfield houses Terminal 1, cargo facilities, maintenance hangars, and administration buildings.

[39][40] South of the airfield, there is Terminal 2, maintenance hangars, police and Mexican Airspace Navigation Services facilities, and a military complex.

It operates under the Mexican Airspace Navigation Services, (Spanish: Servicios a la Navegación en el Espacio Aéreo Mexicano).

Terminal 1, operational since 1958, has undergone several expansions, with significant upgrades in 1970, 1989, 1998, 2000, and 2004, resulting in a total surface area of 542,000 square metres (5,830,000 sq ft).

The ground floor accommodates all arrival facilities, featuring 22 baggage claim carousels, domestic check-in areas for Volaris, Viva Aerobus, and Magnicharters (A1, A2, B, C, D, D1), as well as a commercial corridor along the street hosting snack kiosks, banks, souvenir shops and car rental services.

Operations at Terminal 2 commenced on November 15, 2007, with inaugural flights by Delta Air Lines, followed by Aeroméxico, Copa, LAN, and Continental Airlines.

The upper level includes three check-in areas (L1-L3), two security checkpoints, and a main concourse connected to three piers.

In 2020, the terminal underwent its only expansion with the inauguration of Pier L, a new infrastructure located at the southern end, adjacent to the airport's boundary with Boulevard Fuerza Aérea Mexicana.

[45] Passengers holding a boarding pass, as well as technical and cabin crew, have the option to utilize the Aerotrén people mover system.

Aeromexico serves the largest number of cities from any Latin American hub (80), 46 domestic and 34 international.

Additionally, the airport significantly contributes to the economy of Mexico City, directly supporting 35,000 jobs and indirectly influencing another 15,000 in the immediate area.

Passengers can access the service by obtaining a Metrobus Card from vending machines at these bus stops.