Los Cabos Airport To Convert To Single Terminal: What Tourists Need To Know

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Los Cabos International Airport is about to get a big layout change – and if you fly in and out of SJD often, this one’s going to affect you directly.

We at The Cabo Sun have been tracking the airport’s huge investment plans for months, from new e-gates to a full $370 million makeover of Terminal 2. Now, airport officials have confirmed the next step: unifying operations into a single, expanded terminal over the next few years.

Here’s what that actually means for your future Cabo trips, and how to avoid headaches while the work is underway.

What’s Happening: Two Terminals Become One Hub

Right now, Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) has:

• Terminal 1 – mainly domestic and some regional flights
• Terminal 2 – the international terminal most U.S. and Canadian travelers use

According to a new statement from the airport’s operator, Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP), the goal is to expand Terminal 2 and eventually move all national operators there, creating a unified terminal for both domestic and international flights.

Key points from local reporting and industry briefings:

• GAP plans to invest more than 7 billion pesos (around hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars) in SJD’s expansion and modernization.
• The project includes expanding the aircraft apron, adding square footage to Terminal 2, and building a new final waiting hall to handle more gates and more passengers at once.
• Terminal 2’s size will increase by roughly 22,000 square meters, giving it enough room to host both domestic and international operations under one roof.
• Once the move happens, Terminal 1 will temporarily close, and in a future phase, it may actually be demolished and rebuilt as a modern facility for longer-term growth.

Timeline: When Will Travelers Feel The Change?

This isn’t an overnight switchover. Think of it as a multi-year remodel while the airport stays open:

• 2025: Planning and technical studies ramp up.
• Mid-2026: Heavy construction starts around Terminal 2 as part of the 2025–2029 master plan.
• By late 2027: The airport director expects the expansion and reconfiguration of Terminal 2 to be finished enough to move national airlines over and operate as a unified terminal.
• 2028–2029: Fine-tuning, additional tech upgrades, and longer-term decisions about rebuilding Terminal 1.

So if you’re flying in 2026–2027, you’re likely to see construction walls, rerouted corridors, and temporary changes to check-in or baggage areas—but the airport will stay open and operational the whole time.

Why SJD Is Doing This

Short answer: Cabo has outgrown its old setup.

Los Cabos has been smashing visitor records, with millions of passengers moving through SJD every year and traffic still climbing. Recent figures show over 7 million passengers a year and growing, plus a surge in international arrivals in 2024 and 2025.

Add in:

• 600+ weekly flights now landing in Los Cabos during peak periods
• A wave of new nonstop routes from the U.S., Canada and Panama, with more expected in 2026

…and the old “two uneven terminals” model just isn’t efficient anymore. GAP has already started modernizing with new e-gates, self-service kiosks, and a larger baggage hall in Terminal 2, as we broke down in our earlier look at the airport’s $370M upgrade.

Unifying operations is the logical next step.

What This Means For Your Arrival

For now, if you’re flying in soon, nothing about your booking changes yet:

• Most international flights still arrive in Terminal 2.
• Domestic flights continue to use Terminal 1—at least until the move to T2 begins closer to 2027–2028.

What will change over time is how it feels to arrive:

• Expect busier construction zones and shifting walkways as the expansion progresses.
• Immigration is already moving toward a digital kiosk / e-gate system, which we detailed in our on-the-ground report on airport immigration wait times.
• On peak days, SJD can already handle around 130 flights, so crowding plus construction could add to the chaos if you arrive at rush hour.
• If you haven’t read it yet, our guide on how busy Los Cabos Airport gets in high season is a great reality check for what those lines and crowds look like right now—even before the bulldozers show up.

What This Means For Your Departure

Here’s where planning ahead really pays off.

We’ve already recommended arriving 2.5–3 hours before an international flight out of Cabo, and that advice isn’t going anywhere—if anything, a construction phase makes it even more important.

During the transition, you can expect:

• Longer walks to gates or temporary boarding areas
• Occasional bottlenecks at security and check-in when layouts shift
• More people confused about where to go, which always slows everything down

Our step-by-step guide on how early you really need to get to the Los Cabos airport breaks down timing by travel style (checked bags vs. carry-on only, lounge vs. no lounge). It’s a must-read if you’re flying during high season.

If you do find yourself at the airport early—either because of traffic, shuttle schedules, or just being cautious—our honest take on the Los Cabos VIP Airport Lounge and our tips on how to spend your time at the airport when you’re early or delayed can help you make that buffer time a lot more comfortable.

Ground Transportation: Expect More “Where Do I Meet My Driver?” Confusion

One of the biggest pain points at SJD already is simply finding your pre-booked shuttle or private driver. We’ve seen plenty of travelers wander out the wrong exit and miss their ride entirely, which is why we put together a full guide on finding your pre-booked transportation at the Los Cabos Airport (and the classic mistake to avoid).

As construction ramps up, we expect to see:

• Pick-up zones moved or renumbered
• New temporary signage for tour operators and shuttles
• More “Where are you?” phone calls between drivers and jet-lagged visitors

Our best advice:

• Screenshot your provider’s instructions before you land.
• Double-check which door and post number you’re supposed to meet at.
• If something doesn’t look like the description, ask airport staff or your driver by WhatsApp before wandering off.

How To Stay Sane While SJD Rebuilds Itself

To wrap it up, here’s how to make this big terminal unification as painless as possible on your end:

• Triple-check your terminal in your airline app and confirmation email before heading to the airport—especially once domestic carriers start moving over.
• Build in buffer time on both arrival and departure days; Cabo traffic plus construction is not the combo you want to gamble on.
• Consider lounge access if you’re flying in peak season or with kids—having a calm place to camp out will matter more as the airport gets busier and more torn up.
• Follow official signage, not random advice in the arrivals hall. Your ride, airline, or resort should be your source of truth.
• If anyone in your group has mobility issues, request wheelchair or mobility assistance in advance, as detours and longer walking distances are extremely likely during the build-out.

Los Cabos is clearly betting big on its future as a global gateway—and a unified, modern terminal should be a win for travelers in the long run. In the meantime, we at The Cabo Sun will keep breaking down what changes on the ground so your beach time stays blissful, even if the airport is a work in progress.