Member's Home Forums General Discussion Mexico Mexico Aeronautical & Regulatory Airport/Customs Fees

Can anyone explain to me the fees charged at an airport? I flew in to Guadalajara yesterday and picked up 2 passengers (the aircraft owner and his wife) to travel back to the US. We were charged over $700 USD for a list of items (mostly international customs) over and above the cost of fuel (and I was only there for 45 minutes. I tried to explain it was a private flight and the PAX were the aircraft owners who have a winter residence there, but it made no difference, even after I showed them the notarized Private Operations letter. They simply said charges applied to all international flights.

We have been flying into Guaymas for over 2 years and have never incurred these expenses. I could see a couple hundred dollars more since it is a larger airport with excellent services...but $700 more?

Just looking for info so I can answer the owner's questions. Thanks!
Jim

Hello Jim,

It sounds like you landed in the hands of the local FBO in Guadalajara.

Airports in Mexico provide a basic service call "Aviacion General" (or General Aviation service) which is basically a landing fee a ramp fee and parking fee. Depending on the weight of the aircraft, these fees vary. However, unless you were flying a Boeing or Airbus, you would never come close to the amounts you state for the amount of time you were on the ground. For example, a King Air 200 would pay approximately US$ 33 for landing, US$ 45 for ramp and US$ 37 per day for parking. A Bonanza would pay approximately US$ 9 for landing, US$ 10 for ramp and US$ 11 per day for parking. Immigration taxes run approximately US$ 30 per person and the Entry Permit for the aircraft runs approximately US$ 100.

The exceptions to this cost structure come in two ways; FBO's and privately owned/state owned airports.

FBO's in Mexico (as well as Latin America and the Caribbean) have an entirely different price structure from the USA and the costs can be exorbitant at some of them. The value that they are supposed to provide is a single point for paperwork and payments so that you don't have to go from office to office at the airport presenting papers and paying fees. Whether the value this provides is worth the cost, each operator has to decide. There are some FBO's in Mexico that provide an excellent service with reasonable prices and there are others that are abusive.

Another factor that affects costs are airports that are not federally owned. Privately owned airports have to raise their own operating revenue as they do not receive any financial benefits from the Federal Government for fuel sales taxes etc. Some of these can be noticeably more expensive. Some state owned airports like Toluca have set their own fees and basically forced aircraft to use an FBO so you get the cumulative costs from high airport fees and then FBO fees on top of that. Others like San Felipe, Puebla and Cuernavaca are very reasonable.

If you plan to return to Guadalajara, you should try and do your own handling if you have time (and patience) available. As you are a member, feel free to send us a copy of the invoice and give us a call so that we can review it and discuss how you can reduce your costs on your next trip.

Whenever planning to use an FBO at an airport outside the USA, you should always get a quote in writing. FBO's in Latin America and the Caribbean have a wide range in costs so you should beware before accepting services.

+1 786 206 6147

I posted a PIREP re Guadalajara a few years ago. Fees are reasonable if you avoid the FBO.