San Diego, CA–Bi-national leaders from San Diego County and Mexico celebrated the grand opening of Tijuana International Airport’s new $100 million Passenger Processing Facility that will reduce Cross Border Xpress (CBX) traveler wait times and expedite the transit process from the United States to Mexico.
Dignitaries attending the grand opening included: Marina del Pilar, Governor of the State of Baja California, Laura Diez Barroso, Chairwoman Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, and Board Member of CBX, Carlos Laviada Ocejo, Board member of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico and CBX, Sidney Aki, Customs and Border Protection, Director of Field Operations, Councilmember Bill Sandke, City of Coronado, Hasan Ikhrata, Chief Executive Officer, SANDAG, Julie Coker, CEO, San Diego Tourism Authority, and Miguel Aguiniga, Secretary of Tourism of Baja California.
“Since 2015, CBX has taken an innovative approach to a faster and more efficient connection of the United States with the Tijuana International Airport while providing passengers with exceptional customer service,” said Jorge Goytortua, CEO of Cross Border Xpress. “This new state-of-the-art passenger processing facility is the latest milestone as part of a multimillion-dollar expansion that will shorten our guests’ wait times, improve their travel experience, and help raise the profile of our binational region across the globe.”
“This investment will not only benefit our passengers but its positive impact will be experienced throughout the entire Cali-Baja Megaregion and beyond. Today, more than 75% of non-stop international air travelers that come to San Diego arrive through Tijuana – Cross Border Xpress,” said Raul Revuelta, CEO of GAP.
The 430,000 square feet building expansion is funded by Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP), the operator of 12 airports in Mexico, including Abelardo L. Rodriguez Airport, which hosted the event.
In 2019, CBX generated a total economic impact of $855 million throughout the region and supported 7,613 full-time jobs.
In 2021, the border express had more than 2.7 million travelers and expects to reach 4 million in 2022. By 2034, it is estimated that more than 17 million passengers will transfer through Tijuana International Airport.
The airport has also increased security screening capacity by 75% and added 4 new screening lines. In addition, there are 10 immigration booths, 5 customs review lines with new technology, 39 airline check-in counters, and 2 new boarding gates.
CBX is a direct, secure border crossing between San Diego and the Tijuana International Airport for ticketed airline passengers only, offering airline passengers a convenient alternative to accessing the airport in contrast to the congested land ports of entry at San Ysidro and Otay Mesa. By flying through the Tijuana airport and crossing via CBX to connect to San Diego, passengers can enjoy an international travel experience at a domestic flight rate, with savings ranging from 30 to 50% compared to other airports in Southern California. CBX is designed and operated consistent with U.S. and international security standards. U.S. Customs and Border Protection operations are located within the CBX facility in the U. S., and Mexican Immigration and Customs are located at the airport. SENTRI, Global Entry and I-94 services are available for northbound passengers. The U.S. continues to restrict all non-essential travel across its borders for non-U.S. citizens, which directly impacts CBX.