Departure
99%
vs 95% ▲ 3
MY FS FLIGHTS
MY FS FLIGHTS
Ponciano Arriaga International Airport (MMSP) serves the city of San Luis Potosí in central Mexico, combining scheduled passenger services with a major cargo operation. Its long primary runway and ILS approach make it a straightforward destination for simulator pilots practising airline or cargo operations into a Mexican high-plateau airport.
Ponciano Arriaga International Airport lies on the central Mexican plateau serving the city of San Luis Potosí and its metropolitan area. It is operated by Grupo Aeroportuario Centro Norte (OMA), in which VINCI Airports holds the largest shareholding following a 2022 acquisition. The field is named after Ponciano Arriaga, a nineteenth-century Mexican constitutional lawyer from San Luis Potosí who supported the government of Benito Juárez. For a sim pilot the airport is of interest as a high-elevation field with a long ILS-equipped runway alongside a much shorter secondary strip, and as the principal hub of the cargo carrier Estafeta since 2005.
The airport sits at coordinates 22.2543 N, 100.931 W at an elevation of 6040 feet, within the state of San Luis Potosí in central Mexico, close to the city it serves. The field handles both domestic and international scheduled traffic as well as a substantial dedicated cargo operation, placing it within controlled airspace appropriate to an international airport with approach and tower services.
The airport has two physical runways. The main runway, 14/32, is 9,841 feet long with a hard surface, lit, and equipped with an ILS on runway 14. The secondary runway, 04/22, is 3,281 feet long, also hard-surfaced and lit, used mainly by lighter general aviation traffic given its shorter length.
Approach and tower services are provided on a single frequency, 118.9 MHz, under the callsign Potosi APP/TWR. Runway 14 is served by an ILS approach, supporting instrument arrivals in low visibility or at night.
The airport takes its name from Ponciano Arriaga, a constitutional lawyer born in San Luis Potosí who was a supporter of Benito Juárez's government during the nineteenth century. Since 2005 the airport has served as the main hub for the cargo airline Estafeta, which operates numerous daily domestic cargo flights from dedicated facilities north of the passenger terminal. Ownership passed to Grupo Aeroportuario Centro Norte (OMA), and in December 2022 VINCI Airports completed the acquisition of a substantial stake, becoming OMA's largest shareholder and taking on a role in operating the group's Mexican airports, including this one, under a concession running until 2048.
Today the airport combines scheduled passenger flights, both domestic and international, with significant cargo operations centred on Estafeta's hub facilities. The commercial apron has five narrowbody parking positions and the airport received ACA environmental accreditation in early 2023 along with the other OMA airports. The shorter 04/22 runway sees limited use, primarily by general aviation traffic, while the long 14/32 runway with its ILS handles the bulk of scheduled and cargo movements.