Airports are often places of transit, where time is measured in connections, boarding times and minutes spent waiting. However, there is another way to experience them: slowing down, finding a comfortable place and discovering that the journey can begin long before takeoff.

This idea inspired the renovation of Aeroméxico’s Salones Premier, two spaces conceived to rethink the relationship between travelers and the airport through design, architecture and art. Created by international design firm Gensler, the project draws inspiration from contemporary Mexico and offers an interpretation of hospitality that goes beyond functionality.

Inaugurated in March 2026, the Domestic Salón Premier covers 1,088.88 square meters and accommodates up to 187 guests. The International Salón Premier, meanwhile, opened on April 16 and spans 1,230 square meters, distributed between the main floor and a mezzanine, with a capacity of 204 travelers.

Rather than replicating the conventional layout of an airport waiting lounge, both projects explore different ways of inhabiting a space. Their design incorporates areas for dining, resting and working, with environments that respond to the needs of travelers with different purposes and itineraries. There are dedicated dining areas, relaxation spaces and work zones, as well as private booths for phone calls and video conferences.

This layout allows activities that would normally coexist in the same environment—working, talking, eating or simply waiting—to take place with a greater degree of independence. Architecture thus becomes a tool for organizing the experience and offering different ways to spend time before a flight.

Art as Part of the Journey

One of the most distinctive elements of the renovation is the incorporation of an art collection developed through Aeroméxico Art Initiative, under the curatorship of José Esparza Chong Cuy. Rather than treating art as a decorative resource, the project integrates it as a way to explore Mexico’s cultural and geographical diversity.

The selection brings together the work of artists from different generations, including Miguel Fernández de Castro, Abraham González Pacheco and Graciela Iturbide. Their practices offer different perspectives on the country, its landscapes, identities and forms of expression.

For Chong Cuy, the goal was to establish a relationship between these spaces and Mexico’s artistic production. As he explained during the presentation of the collection: “Something we tried to do was think about how we could present the diversity of Mexican territory through artistic production, bringing together artists from different generations.”

The presence of these works introduces another dimension to the airport experience. In a place associated with constant movement, art invites travelers to pause and consider another perspective on the destination they are about to visit or the one they are leaving behind.

A Table Before Takeoff

The experience is also shaped by gastronomy. Developed by Les Croissants, the culinary offering combines Mexican and international cuisine through a complimentary buffet and an à la carte menu. The selection changes throughout the day, with options for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Together, these elements expand the possibilities of what a stopover or the time before boarding can offer. Dining becomes more than a practical necessity; it becomes another way to enjoy the moments leading up to a journey.

For those traveling to destinations within Mexico, the Domestic Salón Premier offers an alternative way to spend time before setting off. Whether heading to the Pacific coast, the colonial cities of central Mexico or a destination in the southeast, the space provides an opportunity to begin the journey with a pause away from the usual movement of airport terminals.

The renovation raises an interesting question about airport architecture: these spaces do not have to be limited to circulation and waiting. They can also offer experiences connected to the art, gastronomy and culture of the country they belong to.

After all, traveling does not necessarily begin when the aircraft takes off; sometimes, it begins when we find a place to pause before setting out.

salones-premier