Mexico May Be Interested in Cross-Border Airport with San Diego

The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority has received confirmation that Mexican officials are interested in considering building a cross-border airport facility, the South County Economic Development Council said.

Mexico's counsel general, Luis Cabrera, expressed that interest in a March 2 letter to Alan Bersin, the airport authority chairman.

In February, the authority agreed to a market study for a project that would allow San Diego passengers access to flights out of Tijuana's Rodriguez International Airport without having to drive across the border.

Steve Castaneda, a Chula Vista councilman and a development council member, said the authority "is looking to maximize the existing airport facilities to relieve congestion."

The study will look at options that include a simple pedestrian bridge from a parking lot in Otay Mesa or a terminal on the U.S. side with ticket and check-in counters. The most elaborate would allow commercial carriers to pull up and park at gates in U.S. territory.