Airport Codes
Total 1 airports of SJD
Los Cabos International Airport (IATA: SJD, ICAO:MMSD) is located in the the city of San Jose Del Cabo, Mexico. It is the primary international airport serving San Jose Del Cabo and its surrounding metropolitan area.
Airport Overview
Los Cabos International Airport (SJD), also identified by ICAO code MMSD, is located in San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico. It serves San José del Cabo, Cabo San Lucas and the wider Los Cabos tourism corridor. The airport is an international, passenger-led gateway rather than a dedicated all-cargo hub. Its freight role is therefore closely linked to scheduled passenger aircraft capacity, seasonal tourism demand and available handling slots. The airport operates separate domestic and international passenger terminals, with international cargo movements requiring coordination between the airline, appointed ground handler, customs broker and Mexican authorities.
| Airport name | Los Cabos International Airport |
|---|---|
| IATA / ICAO | SJD / MMSD |
| City and country | San José del Cabo, Los Cabos, Mexico |
| Coordinates | 23.1518002, -109.7210007 |
| Time zone | UTC−07:00 |
| Address | San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico |
Key Highlights
Cargo Facilities & Services
- Airline and ground-handler acceptance: Export and import cargo is normally processed through the airline’s appointed cargo or ground-handling arrangement. The handling party, acceptance location, operating hours and documentation cut-off must be confirmed for each booking.
- International cargo controls: Shipments entering or leaving Mexico may require customs presentation, broker coordination and electronic documentation. Availability of bonded or customs-controlled storage depends on the appointed operator and the cargo’s customs status.
- Temperature-sensitive cargo: Chilled, frozen, pharmaceutical and other time-critical shipments should be pre-alerted with the required temperature range, packaging method and handling instructions. Acceptance of passive or active containers is subject to airline and handler approval.
- Dangerous goods: Acceptance is dependent on the airline’s capability, the applicable IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations and advance approval. Shipper’s Declaration, package markings, labels and supporting permits must be checked before delivery.
- Special cargo handling: Oversized pieces, valuables, live animals, human remains and cargo requiring security screening may need advance arrangements, special equipment or an alternative gateway.
Routes & Logistics Transit Times
- North American connections: International cargo is commonly planned through available passenger-aircraft or interline capacity linking Los Cabos with Mexican, United States and Canadian gateways. The exact routing depends on the origin, airline acceptance and seasonal schedule.
- Mexican domestic connections: Cargo to or from Mexico City and other domestic points may require a domestic connection, a terminal transfer or a separate trucking leg. Customs treatment must be aligned with the selected routing.
- Interline planning: When no direct capacity is available, our service team compares airline and interline options, checking through-air-waybill acceptance, transfer handling, security screening and rebooking procedures.
- Transit-time variables: Actual transit is affected by flight availability, connection integrity, customs inspection, weather, resort-season demand, irregular operations and the time required to position cargo from the shipper to the airport.
Hinterland & Key Cargo
- Primary service area: San José del Cabo, Cabo San Lucas and the Los Cabos municipality form the principal catchment area. Resort properties, hospitality suppliers, local distributors and construction projects generate time-sensitive replenishment demand.
- Hospitality and tourism supplies: Hotel equipment, replacement parts, uniforms, promotional materials, food-service items and urgent maintenance components are typical air-freight candidates.
- Perishable products: Seafood, fresh produce, specialty foods and other perishables may require pre-arranged temperature protection and rapid customs release. Packaging must be suitable for the full airport-to-consignee journey.
- Industrial and commercial cargo: Automotive or machinery parts, electrical components, tools, electronics and urgent spare parts may move by air when a production or service interruption justifies the premium.
- Regional distribution limits: Shipments for destinations outside southern Baja California Sur may require a dedicated truck, domestic air connection or an alternative Mexican gateway, depending on final delivery requirements.
Operations & Compliance
- Cut-off control: Airline cargo cut-offs vary by flight, commodity, security process and handling provider. Our team confirms the physical tender deadline separately from the booking deadline; late delivery can result in rollover or additional handling.
- Commercial documents: The air waybill, commercial invoice, packing list, shipper and consignee details, customs information and any product-specific permits must be consistent. Mexican import or export requirements should be reviewed with the appointed customs broker before dispatch.
- Regulated cargo: Dangerous goods, lithium batteries, pharmaceuticals, food, perishables, live animals and other controlled commodities require accurate commodity identification and advance acceptance. Generic descriptions such as “parts” or “samples” should be avoided where they conceal a regulated product.
- Customs and collection: Customs inspection, missing data, valuation questions or broker availability can delay release. The consignee should be ready with tax, import authorization and delivery arrangements before cargo arrival.
Shipping Tips
- Send the commercial invoice, packing list, dimensions, gross weight, commodity description and destination details to our service team before requesting space, especially during holiday or resort high seasons.
- Request pre-approval for dangerous goods, batteries, temperature-controlled cargo, live animals, valuables and oversized pieces. Do not deliver special cargo until the airline and handler have accepted the shipment profile.
- Use packaging that can withstand multiple transfers and a warm outdoor environment. For perishables and pharmaceuticals, specify the required temperature range, logger policy, coolant replenishment plan and emergency contact.
- Keep a contingency option ready: an alternative connection, a different Mexican gateway or an airport-to-door trucking plan may be more reliable when Los Cabos capacity or handling availability is constrained.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, international cargo can be arranged subject to airline capacity, appointed-handler acceptance, security screening and Mexican customs procedures. The service team confirms the applicable process for the selected flight rather than treating every passenger flight as cargo-capable.
No. Capacity is schedule-dependent and can be limited during peak tourism periods. When direct space is unavailable, our team evaluates interline connections, domestic transfers and alternative gateways according to the cargo’s urgency and customs requirements.
They may be accepted when the airline and handler approve the shipment and the packaging protects the cargo through acceptance, flight, transfer and delivery. Temperature instructions, permits and broker readiness should be arranged before booking.
Typical causes include incomplete commercial documents, inconsistent consignee data, customs inspection, missing permits, broker unavailability and cargo arriving outside the planned collection window. Pre-alerting the broker and consignee reduces avoidable delay.
Airport arrival and final delivery are separate steps. Our team can coordinate airport collection and onward trucking, but the delivery address, vehicle access, receiving hours and any resort or construction-site restrictions must be confirmed in advance.
Data Sources & Provenance
The airport identity, codes, coordinates, address, city, country and time-zone information in this module are based on the supplied airport reference data. Operational statements are qualitative guidance for freight planning and remain subject to the airline, ground handler, customs broker and authority confirmation.
For independent verification of airport-operator information, Mexican civil-aviation oversight and customs requirements, consult:
- gapairports.com — airport operator information and airport network references.
- gob.mx — Mexican government and aviation-authority information.
- sat.gob.mx — Mexican tax and customs authority information.
- iata.org — airline, airport and dangerous-goods industry standards.
- icao.int — international aviation standards and airport-code reference framework.