Mexico’s AMLO says public should decide fate of new airport

MEXICO CITY – Mexico’s president-elect says a decision about whether to cancel a $15.7 billion project for a new airport in the capital should be left to the public.

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said at a news conference Friday that the future of the project will be decided by Mexicans in some sort of public consultation around the end of October.

A technical report found that keeping the current airport and adding two runways to a military air base north of the capital would not be the best long-term solution.

Lopez Obrador said the pros and cons should be evaluated and investments and contracts would be respected if construction is halted.

During his campaign, he called the project too costly and pledged to review it if he won. He takes office Dec. 1.

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This story has been corrected to reflect that one of the proposals calls for two new runways at a military base north of the capital, not at the current international airport.