But the happiness of the travelers who, excited, will take a flight that will take them to a dream place, or return to their land, also abounds.
Airports have a life of their own. Although they are usually cold and impersonal places, they maintain an essence that can be unforgettable for the user.
A common thing in all the modern airports in the world is that they have put decoration aside, to move towards efficiency and mobility.
Perhaps one of the examples is the Harry Reid Airport (formerly McCarran) in Las Vegas, Nevada, which receives more than 50 million people a year and which had to change its physiognomy similar to a huge casino for that of an airport where people was in the building for as little time as possible, so that mobility was the most important mission. And they did.
Who said that an airport in 2022 must be eye-catching and aesthetically beautiful? Who has sold us that idea that seems from the past?
In Mexico, the debate over the new Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) has transcended more than other parts of the world could imagine.
The participation of all people in government works that are paid for with their taxes is important. But what the AIFA airport has generated on social networks could be considered exaggerated, for a simple reason: hardly anyone knows about it, or its plan.
Without a doubt, the opening date, on March 21, was rushed. According to testimonies in images and videos, the new airport is 100% unfinished. In addition, the initial budget was greatly exceeded and it hardly resembles the model of the project that was intended to be carried out in Texcoco.
It is quite far from airports such as Changi in Singapore or Hamad in Doha, Qatar, considered the most beautiful in the world. It barely has two of the three landing strips enabled. There are connectivity failures from Mexico City, lack of signs, a very expensive taxi service and transportation apps. Wow, he even needs to finish the VIP and fast food areas.
All this is criticizable, without a doubt. Those and other technical points are where the discussion should focus. Situations that with the passage of time will be solved.
However, the politicization that AIFA has generated tells us more about us as a society than about a building with aircraft operations. We must recognize that politics is our national sport.
an international window
In other cities of the world they would celebrate in unison having a new airport, because this speaks of greater investments, promotion of tourism, greater international projection, among hundreds of etceteras. In Mexico, this celebration has been darkened by partisan colors and tints.
It is impressive how the president has become the center of everything in the political discussion, it is even dangerous. Because not only his followers have him on a pedestal to praise him, but also his opposition has made him omnipresent.
Before demonizing or extolling a work of this magnitude, it is important to delve into what the world says about it. That is why they are called “international airport”, not only because the planes will travel to different countries, but because it is an airport correspondent, which has a global strategy to connect the world in a better way every day.
Regardless of whether you vote for Morena or hate it outright, who has to give the last word on the operation of the airport is the ACI (Airports Council International), which has already accredited it and wildly supports the work in Santa Lucía.
