Isla Mujeres Aerodrome Faces Controversy: Luxury Real Estate or Community Needs?

The municipal president, Atenea Gómez Ricalde, is spearheading the commercialization of the Isla Mujeres aerodrome, a move that has sparked discontent among local residents. Islanders are advocating for the space to be used for a university campus or a general hospital, amenities that are currently lacking. However, there are plans to develop a luxury real estate project on the site.

City Council members have revealed that the plan to commercialize the airstrip is an executive order. It will be the first implementation of the new Law of Expropriation, Temporary Occupation and Limitation of Domain of Quintana Roo. This law will affect approximately 10 hectares of land, including the runway, which is 1260 meters long and 24 meters wide. The land's width varies, extending up to 200 meters in some areas.

The land has been state-owned since November 23, 2015, when the Mexican Navy transferred it to the Government for civil operations. The runway's history dates back to the 1930s when it was a grass airstrip used extensively during World War II for maritime surveillance by the Allied forces. It was officially opened on May 18, 1964, by then-President Adolfo López Mateos, complete with a terminal building and a control tower.

The State Government of Quintana Roo has passed Decree Number 090, introducing the Law of Expropriation, Temporary Occupation and Limitation of Ownership. This decree, signed on January 14, 2025, at the Official Residence of the Executive Power in Chetumal, was published in the Official State Newspaper on January 16, 2025.

The decree's primary goal is to regulate the expropriation and temporary occupation of real estate in the state, with a focus on infrastructure projects, urban development, and public services.

The commercialization will be managed by the Isla Mujeres city council. The previous administration, under Atenea Gomez Ricalde, was aware of plans to sell the 10 hectares for real estate development. This knowledge sparked social media protests after a council member publicly disclosed the intentions. The state government now plans to privatize the aerodrome, which was operated by the Aviation Fuel National until July 1978. The Mexican Navy took over operations until it was transferred to the state government.

The aerodrome's main access is on Juarez Avenue. It has a 10-meter high control tower and a 1260 meter long and 24-meter wide runway, with a 4200 m² aircraft parking area. The airport can handle small Cessna-type aircraft, medium ATR-42 type aircraft, and small Learjet type jets. However, the runway is not lit, making night-time operations unsafe and therefore prohibited.

The debate continues on social media, with islanders insisting that the land should be used for a general hospital. The youth sector has also voiced their desire for the space to be used for a university campus.