El Tajín National Airport
Airport serving Poza Rica, Veracruz, Mexico
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Poza Rica Airport (Spanish: Aeropuerto de Poza Rica); officially Aeropuerto Nacional El Tajín (El Tajín National Airport) (IATA: PAZ, ICAO: MMPA) is an airport located in Tihuatlán, Veracruz, Mexico. It serves domestic flights for Poza Rica and Tuxpan in Veracruz, while also supporting various executive and general aviation activities. Operated by Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares, a federal government-owned corporation, the airport takes its name from El Tajín, a pre-Columbian archaeological site in Northern Veracruz. In 2025, the airport handled 1,997 passengers.[1]
Poza Rica Airport Aeropuerto de Poza Rica | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Operator | Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares | ||||||||||
| Serves | Poza Rica, Veracruz, Mexico | ||||||||||
| Location | Tihuatlán, Veracruz, Mexico | ||||||||||
| Time zone | CST (UTC−06:00) | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 151 m (495 ft) | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 20°36′09″N 97°27′39″W | ||||||||||
| Website | www.aeropuertosasa.mx/PAZ | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  PAZ Location of airport in Veracruz  PAZ PAZ (Mexico) | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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| Statistics (2025) | |||||||||||
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| Source: Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil[1] | |||||||||||
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Poza Rica Airport saw significant operations, largely driven by the substantial volume of passengers associated with the petroleum industry. While Aeromexico and Aeromar previously served the airport, most commercial flights were suspended by 2020.[2][3] Since 2023, it has experienced intermittent service by the regional airline Aerus, with flights to Reynosa, Tampico, Veracruz, and Villahermosa.[4]
Facilities
The airport is situated at an elevation of 151 metres (495 ft) above mean sea level, covering an area of 157 hectares (390 acres). It features a single asphalt runway, designated as 28/26, measuring 1,800 metres (5,900 ft). The commercial aviation apron spans 15,750 square metres (169,500 sq ft), featuring two parking positions for narrow-body aircraft and additional stands for general aviation. Official operating hours are from 7:00 to 19:00.
The passenger terminal caters to both domestic arrivals and departures in a single-story structure. It includes check-in areas, a security checkpoint, a baggage claim area, and an arrivals hall with car rental services, taxi stands, and several retail stores. The departures concourse includes three gates with direct access to the apron, allowing passengers to board their planes by walking to the aircraft. Adjacent facilities include parking areas, civil aviation hangars, administration offices, courier and logistic facilities, and facilities for general aviation.
Statistics
Annual Traffic
| Year | Total Passengers | change % | Cargo movements (t) | Air operations |
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| 2006 | 75,876 |  | 81 | 10,487 |
| 2007 | 80,861 |  6.56% | 93 | 11,635 |
| 2008 | 106,636 | 31.87% | 58 | 11,432 |
| 2009 | 119,183 | 11.76% | 82 | 11,303 |
| 2010 | 102,192 |  14.25% | 202 | 11,046 |
| 2011 | 113,720 | 11.28% | 123 | 12,009 |
| 2012 | 127,745 | 12.33% | 198 | 14,018 |
| 2013 | 113,496 | 11.15% | 173 | 9,999 |
| 2014 | 92,587 | 18.42% | 120 | 9,444 |
| 2015 | 60,575 | 34.57% | 93 | 7,333 |
| 2016 | 37,613 | 37.90% | 88 | 4,013 |
| 2017 | 27,365 | 27.24% | 45 | 3,289 |
| 2018 | 25,890 | 5.39% | 11 | 4,172 |
| 2019 | 27,083 | 4.61% | 17 | 5,391 |
| 2020 | 4,146 | 84.69% | 0.4 | 1,204 |
| 2021 | 2,645 | 36.21% | 0 | 2,342 |
| 2022 | 2,666 | 0.80% | 0 | 1,147 |
| 2023 | 3,050 | 14.40% | 0 | 1,015 |
| 2024 | 1,180 | 61.31% | 0 | 712 |
| 2025 | 1,997 | 69.23% | 0 | 1,138 |
