Guadalajara International Airport

Guadalajara International Airport (GDL ^IATA) is in the western state of Jalisco, Mexico. The airport serves the greater Guadalajara area and is Mexico's third busiest airport. It is a hub for Volaris, which flies to about 25 Mexican destinations from Guadalajara. The airport is served by most major North American airlines.

The airport's long formal name is Aeropuerto Internacional de Guadalajara Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. In 2025, the airport served 18.7 million passengers.

The airport has two terminals, but the vast majority of flights use Terminal 1 (the main terminal), Terminal 1 is divided into separate zones, designated 1A and 1C. 1A is gates for most domestic flights. 1C is gates for most international flights. Terminal 2 is a much smaller terminal with limited traveler services, it is used by Viva Aerobus so their passengers never forget that they're on a no-frills, low-cost carrier.

There are 43 gates in Terminal 1. Gates preceded by an "A" are airside walk-up gates on the lower level. You will board by having your boarding pass scanned at a door directly onto the tarmac where you'll climb steps onto the aircraft. Gates preceded by a "B" or "C" are standard jetways onto the aircraft. Gates preceded by a "D" will board a bus that will take you to the aircraft, parked elsewhere on the tarmac, away from the terminal building.

Expect frequent roadway closures and service interruptions as the airport undergoes a major expansion beginning in 2026. The expansion will replace the small Terminal 2 with a huge new replacement designed to be a zero carbon, eco friendly facility that will increase the airport's passenger capacity to 40 million per year.

Airlines serving GDL include Mexican carriers AeroMexico, Viva Aerobus, and Volaris. U.S. carriers include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, and United, with direct flights from Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, Houston and Denver. Canadian carriers include Air Canada, Flair, and WestJet with flights from Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary. Panamanian carrier Copa offers direct flights from Panama City. Aeromexico offers direct flights from Madrid.

Taxis are the most flexible way to get from the airport to any part of the metropolitan area (but also the most expensive). At the airport, always buy the taxi chit from the booth before exiting the terminal, then present it to the licensed driver. Many hotels offer airport pickups that can be cheaper.

Uber and other ride-hailing app drivers are not allowed to pick up passengers at the airport. A common way to get around this limitation is to walk outside the airport a few minutes away to the nearby UPS distribution center (labeled as "Centro de Envios UPS" on Google maps). Set your Uber pick up location at this UPS center, which is outside the airport's restrictions and a driver will pick you up there.

The MiMacro BRT buses serve the airport using Line 5 to the Aeropuerto station. The MiMacro station is open daily from 03:30 to 22:30. It costs M$11 (about US$0.60) per ride. Fares must be paid using a Mi Movilidad prepaid card, which can be purchased in the stations. Destinations served by the Line 5 Mi Macro include popular traveler spots like Parque Agua Azul (downtown), Expo Guadalajara, and Estadio Akron. The app Moovit might find a better bus connection from the airport to your accommodation than Google Maps (as of Dec 2021).

Mi Transporte Eléctrico route C98 picks up at Terminal 1 near the FedEx facility. Buses are air conditioned and have racks for luggage. Buses go to the Periferico Norte station. Fares cost M$10 and are paid in coins to the driver.

There is not a dedicated long-distance bus station, but some bus companies pick up at the airport. There are frequent pickups by the Chapala bus line offering regional service to towns around Lake Chapala or to the Central Vieja (old bus station). To use these buses, follow signs in the terminal to Transportes Terrestres. If you plan to take an onward long-distance bus, be aware that most of those buses depart from the Central Camionera (new bus station), not from Central Vieja (which has mostly regional buses).

Guadalajara International Airport is one of the least complicated airports to navigate. Most airlines operate out of a single terminal and all gates are essentially along a single (very) long corridor. Signage is ample and excellent with both Spanish and English. There are no complicated trams, no twisty labyrinths, and no need to go up and down escalators or stairways.

Seating areas are available at all gates, but like at most airports, they get crowded close to flight boarding time. All seating clusters have charging areas for electronic devices with 110 volt AC plugs (same as used in the US) as well as USB ports. Outlets and ports are typically located directly below the seat. Seats close to the charging stations tend to be the most popular, so get to the gate early if you want to charge your phone.

The airport has three lounges. VIP Lounge East and West both sell daily daily admission passes for M$600 (about US$30). The Aeromexico Salon Premier is limited to the airline's elite frequent fliers and first class passengers. The two VIP lounges are open 24 hours.

• VIP Lounge East (Domestic), located at Gate D30, near the Wings restaurant
• VIP Lounge West (International), located at Gate B13
• Aeromexico Salón Premier , located at Gate 11

Guadalajara International Airport (GDL) has a mix of dining options ranging from fast food grease pits to sit-down bistros. Casual dining spots occupy a mid-level spot on the quality spectrum. All of the restaurants are in the main concourse of Terminal 1 (inside security). If you need a place outside security, Fruty's is outside, near the main entrance.

Some of the better eateries in the terminal include:

• 900 Novecento - a more upscale dining experience with good table service, Argentinian steaks and Mexican arrachera with lots of other options to boot. Full bar includes top-shelf tequilas and several Mexican craft beers (including some local Tapatio faves).
• Urban Corner - casual bistro with a modern Mexican fusion menu that includes ribeye tacos and fresh ceviche. Good margaritas and beer selection.

Family-friendly options:

• Chili's - just as unremarkable as the Chili's back home! (But kids do like 'em!) Kids menu includes chicken strips, mac and cheese, and sliders.
• Wings Aeropuerto - welcoming diner atmosphere with kids' menus (and a large adults menu), and full-service bars. The enchiladas suizas are recommended. Open 24 hours.
• Shake Shack - kids love the burgers and fries, dad loves that they have some good Mexican craft beers on tap

Grab and go:

• Le Pain Quotidien - is a coffee shop serving organic Mexican coffees with fresh baked pastries and croissants.

Guadalajara International Airport has a variety of shops selling overpriced things you don't need anyway.

Duty-free stores are in both the international departures and arrivals areas. They sell alcohol, fragrances, and tobacco.

Most stores and shops are in the main concourse of Terminal 1 in the departures area (after security). Many are just predictable international brands with many others being your typical airport newsstand selling trinkets, magazines, and candy, (though there is an Oxxo store that has some better quality junk food for you to stock up on).

There are also a couple of interesting stores:

• Indita Mia sells souvenirs along with some products typical of Jalisco
• Pineda Covalin sells good-quality Mexican fashions

WiFi internet service is available in all parts of the main terminal. From your network settings, select "GAP FREE". You will be asked to agree to terms and conditions.

Outside the airport, 5G service is ubiquitous in all parts of Guadalajara. The major carrier is Telcel.

The airport has a number of facilities to make life easier on the traveling public. These include:

• Lactation pods - Breastfeeding moms can use this space to get a little privacy
• Playground - a large play area is set up near gate C30 to keep toddlers busy while waiting for flights
• Pet relief areas - Travel with pets often involves trying to figure out where Fido can take care of nature's call. Near gate C30 is a small pet relief area, complete with a fake fire hydrant where a dog can take care of a dog's business

There is one hotel on the airport premises: a Hilton Garden Inn. There are also several hotels within a couple miles of the airport, most offering free shuttle service to and from the main terminal. The closest is the Hangar Inn, across the highway from the airport entrance. If you have a longer layover, the Tlaqapaque area is nearby, has some good boutique hotels and is delightfully scenic.

• Hilton Garden Inn, Guadalajara International Airport, Terminal 1, ☏ +52 33 9689 4200. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. 180 modern, comfortable rooms located inside Terminal 1 at the exit from baggage claim. Fitness center available with restaurants on the lower level. M$4000. (updated Jun 2026)

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