Bachigualato Federal International Airport (MMCL), SIN
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Bachigualato Federal International Airport, known by its ICAO code MMCL, serves Culiacán in the Mexican state of Sinaloa with a single paved runway capable of handling a wide range of business aircraft. The field sits roughly 212 nautical miles from the nearest major metro reference point tracked in Skystar data, and FAA TFMSC figures show it as an active cross-border destination for business aviation operators planning into northwestern Mexico.
Runways
Bachigualato Federal International Airport has one paved runway, 03/21, 7,365 ft long and 148 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Business aviation traffic
Bachigualato Federal International Airport recorded 2,224 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in January and December. Business aviation traffic at MMCL concentrates in the winter months, with January and December showing the highest monthly operations compared to a summer lull in July and August.
Cross-border movements to the United States, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month January, 226 movements in 2025.
FAA TFMSC records a movement outside the United States only when the flight enters US airspace. This is cross-border traffic, not total activity at the airfield.
Source: FAA TFMSC, cross-border movements, 2025.
Climate
June is the warmest month, with average highs of 99.9°F, and December the coldest, at 86.2°F.
Weather station is 18.4 NM from the field. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: Servicio Meteorológico Nacional.
Alternates
Bachigualato Federal International Airport has one alternate within 42 NM. The nearest alternate is El Mochomo Airport, 41.42 NM northwest.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at MMCL
We arrange catering, fuel and trip support here. Supplier prices reach you unchanged; our coordination fee sits on its own line.
The same order, priced two ways.
$2,400.00 catering order at MMCL.
Unchanged.
What the kitchen invoices us is what your quote reads.
One line, fixed.
It does not move with the size of the order.
At cost.
Passed on at the exact amount the processor took.
Market practice figures are industry averages, not a specific competitor.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of traffic does MMCL see from a US perspective?
Bachigualato Federal International Airport, identified as MMCL, shows 2,224 annual business aviation operations according to FAA TFMSC data for 2025. This figure represents cross-border traffic tracked by the FAA, not the airport's total activity. Total recorded operations across all categories reach 19,281 for the year. Dispatchers should treat the business aviation count as the relevant benchmark for US-Mexico corridor planning. The airport carries an ops tier of 1, reflecting its position among the more active Mexican fields tracked in this dataset.
What runway is available at Culiacan's Bachigualato airport?
Bachigualato Federal International Airport operates a single runway, 03/21, measuring 7,365 feet long and 148 feet wide. The surface is asphalt, and the full length is paved. This single strip handles all fixed-wing traffic at the field, so runway availability does not vary by direction beyond the 03/21 orientation itself. At 108 feet elevation, density altitude concerns are minimal for most aircraft types operating here. Crews planning into MMCL should confirm current runway condition reports separately, as no supplementary surface remarks are on file.
How far is MMCL from the nearest tracked neighboring airport?
The nearest neighboring airport to MMCL on file is El Mochomo Airport, located 41.42 nautical miles away on a bearing of 309 degrees. This places El Mochomo to the northwest of Bachigualato Federal International Airport. For flight planning purposes, this distance may be relevant when considering alternate airports in the Culiacan area. No other neighboring fields are listed in the current dataset for comparison. Crews should still consult full alternate-airport lists beyond this single reference point.
Does business aviation traffic at MMCL vary by season?
Yes, MMCL shows notable seasonal concentration in its business aviation traffic. Monthly figures peak in January at 226 operations and December at 217, while mid-year months such as July and August dip to 162 and 163 respectively. This pattern suggests higher business aviation activity in the winter months at Bachigualato Federal International Airport compared to summer. Dispatchers scheduling repeat trips through Culiacan may want to factor this seasonal spread into planning. The variation is drawn directly from FAA TFMSC monthly tracking for 2025.
How hot does it get at Bachigualato Federal International Airport?
Average maximum temperatures at Bachigualato Federal International Airport, MMCL, climb through the spring and peak in June at 99.9 degrees Fahrenheit, with May close behind at 99.1 degrees. The cooler months of December and January see average highs around 86 degrees Fahrenheit. This range affects performance planning for departures during the hottest part of the year, particularly for turbine aircraft near maximum weight. These figures reflect average monthly maximum temperatures rather than daily extremes. Crews should still consult current weather reports for actual conditions on the day of operation.