Mexico airport project abandoned

It has been announced by Mexico’s President-elect, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, that construction work on an airport project in Mexico City will be halted following the results of a referendum.

Holding a referendum on the controversial project was one of Obrador’s campaign promises and 70% of those who voted were in favour of abandoning the scheme. However, only one million people voted, which equates to less than 1% of the country’s population.

The estimated cost of the airport – for which foundations have already been built – is US$13 billion. The project has been plagued with problems since it was first approved.

Obrador said that the current international airport would instead be upgraded and two runways would be added at a military airfield south of the city. He added that another airport, at Toluca, would be repurposed.