Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP), which manages 14 airports across Mexico and Jamaica, has unveiled an ambitious environmental roadmap aimed at significantly curbing its ecological footprint. Under its Sustainability Plan 2025-2029, the operator is committing to divert at least 50% of its total waste from landfills by the end of the decade, signaling a major shift in how major transit hubs manage materials in an era of heightened environmental scrutiny.
This initiative comes as the group grapples with the logistics of handling massive passenger volume; in 2025 alone, GAP’s terminals facilitated the movement of 63.7 million passengers, representing roughly 30% of all air travel traffic in Mexico.
Modernizing Infrastructure for Circularity
To hit the 50% diversion milestone, GAP is moving beyond simple waste separation. The company is actively upgrading its physical infrastructure, which includes expanding storage zones and installing specialized environmental equipment across its Mexican terminals. According to the company, successfully recovering materials—rather than discarding them—requires a fundamental redesign of airport workflows.
The strategy involves a multi-pronged approach: standardizing waste handling, implementing point-of-generation separation through strategically placed containers, and fostering closer partnerships with authorized recyclers and waste management collectors. By digitizing tracking processes and modernizing facility layouts, GAP aims to create a “circular” ecosystem that involves not just airport management, but also tenants, ground staff, and millions of transient passengers.
Technological Integration and Data-Driven Sustainability
The aviation industry is increasingly turning to data analytics and smart resource management to align with international climate targets. Like many global corporations leveraging AI and predictive analytics to manage complex supply chains, GAP is integrating resource monitoring into its broader operational planning.
Modern airport expansions are no longer just about increasing capacity; they are being designed to optimize the “triple play” of resource efficiency: water, energy, and waste. By utilizing data to monitor output, GAP can better identify waste hotspots, allowing for more precise resource allocation. This reflects a broader trend among the 590 airports globally that are part of the Airport Carbon Accreditation program—a framework that utilizes rigorous data reporting to ensure that infrastructure growth does not outpace environmental sustainability. As of late 2025, every one of GAP’s airports holds this accreditation, with nine terminals reaching the advanced Level 3 status.
La Paz: A Blueprint for Operational Change
The La Paz International Airport has emerged as a high-performing pilot for the group’s sustainability efforts. In May 2026, the facility made history by becoming the first in Mexico to receive the “Desplastifícate” (De-plasticize) distinction. Over a six-month period, the airport eliminated over 41,000 single-use plastic items—nearly 200 kilograms of waste—by swapping out disposable cutlery for reusable alternatives and installing automated dispensing systems.
This success serves as a scalable model for the rest of the network. While the removal of plastic might seem like a small logistical change, it highlights the necessity of human behavior modification within high-traffic public spaces.
As GAP moves toward its 2029 goals, it is clear that the transition relies on a combination of hardware upgrades and behavioral change. By fostering a culture of sustainability among the airport community and utilizing modern management systems to track progress, GAP is positioning its infrastructure to meet both the rising demand for travel and the growing societal expectation for corporate environmental accountability. Through these efforts, the group is not only reducing its reliance on landfills but is setting a new standard for airport operations throughout Latin America.
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