Smoking at Benito Juárez International Airport – MEX – 2026

Looking for a place to smoke at Mexico City International Airport? MEX is Latin America’s busiest airport and enforces strict indoor smoking bans. Designated outdoor areas are available outside both terminals.

Terminal 1

Terminal 2

Between Terminals

Outside Terminals

Mexico’s General Law for Tobacco Control (Ley General para el Control del Tabaco), enacted in 2008 and strengthened in 2023, bans smoking in all enclosed public spaces and workplaces, including airports. The 2023 amendments expanded the ban to include outdoor areas of restaurants, bars, and public buildings, making Mexico one of the strictest countries in Latin America for tobacco control. At airports, smoking is restricted to designated outdoor areas only. Mexico City’s local regulations are even stricter, prohibiting smoking within public buildings and their immediate surroundings. Fines for violating the smoking ban range from 1,000 to 10,000 times the minimum daily wage. E-cigarettes and vaping devices were banned for sale and distribution in Mexico by presidential decree in 2022, though possession for personal use is technically not criminalized.

Terminal 1

• Outdoor smoking areas on the departures level outside the main entrance
• Additional area on the arrivals level (planta baja) near the exit doors
• Terminal 1 handles most domestic flights and some international carriers
• No indoor smoking rooms or post-security smoking access

Terminal 2

• Outdoor smoking areas outside the terminal entrance on the departures level
• Arrivals level smoking area near the ground transportation exit
• Terminal 2 serves Aeromexico and SkyTeam partners, plus some international flights
• No post-security smoking facilities

Between Terminals

• The Aerotrén (monorail) connects Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 but has no smoking areas along the route
• Budget 20-30 minutes if transferring between terminals for a smoke break

Outside Terminals

• Designated areas with ashtrays and bins are clearly marked at both terminal entrances
• Mexico City’s high altitude (2,240 meters) means thinner air — smokers may notice increased breathlessness

Mexico Smoking Regulations

Mexico’s General Law for Tobacco Control (Ley General para el Control del Tabaco), enacted in 2008 and strengthened in 2023, bans smoking in all enclosed public spaces and workplaces, including airports. The 2023 amendments expanded the ban to include outdoor areas of restaurants, bars, and public buildings, making Mexico one of the strictest countries in Latin America for tobacco control. At airports, smoking is restricted to designated outdoor areas only. Mexico City’s local regulations are even stricter, prohibiting smoking within public buildings and their immediate surroundings. Fines for violating the smoking ban range from 1,000 to 10,000 times the minimum daily wage. E-cigarettes and vaping devices were banned for sale and distribution in Mexico by presidential decree in 2022, though possession for personal use is technically not criminalized.

Tips for Smokers at Mexico City International Airport

• Mexico City Airport has no indoor smoking rooms. All smoking takes place outdoors at designated areas outside each terminal. Plan to smoke before entering the security checkpoint at MEX.
• Mexico City sits at 2,240 meters (7,350 feet) elevation. The thinner air can make smoking feel more intense, especially for visitors not acclimatized to the altitude.
• Security lines at MEX can be long, particularly at Terminal 1 during morning domestic departures. Allow 40-50 minutes for a smoke break round trip.
• E-cigarettes are banned for sale in Mexico. While personal possession is a gray area, avoid using vaping devices at the airport to prevent confiscation.