Tomatlán, Jalisco, Mexico – Jalisco Governor Enrique Alfaro Ramírez announced that the Chalacatepec International Airport, located in Costalegre, Jalisco, is set to begin operations later this year. The completed airport aims to boost connectivity in the Costalegre region, a 240-kilometer stretch of Pacific coastline south of Puerto Vallarta.
Governor Alfaro revealed plans for the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SICT) to initiate a public tender this month for the concession to operate the airport. Initially proposed as a domestic airport under state government management, the decision has been made to operate it internationally under an airport group.
Several groups have already expressed interest in participating in the tender, which will be directly overseen by SICT. Alfaro stressed that collaboration with airlines will determine the flight offerings once the airport begins operations.
Once operational, Chalacatepec will become Jalisco’s third international airport, joining Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, both managed by Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP), which oversees a total of 12 airports along Mexico’s Pacific coast.
The airport, with an investment of 62 million pesos (US $3.2 million), is equipped to accommodate various aircraft sizes. Martín Pablo Zazueta, chief of Guadalajara International Airport, mentioned GAP’s openness to participating in the concession process for Chalacatepec’s air terminal while maintaining focus on current airport operations.
The Costalegre region encompasses several towns and beaches, including Melaque, Tenacatita, Costa Careyes, and Chemala, stretching from Barra de Navidad to Playa Quemada. Notably, the region is home to ultra-luxury developments like Careyes and Cuixmala. Tourism officials anticipate it becoming a premier destination on the Pacific coast, describing its beaches as “a diamond in the rough.”
