General Leobardo C. Ruiz International Airport (MMZC), ZAC
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
General Leobardo C. Ruiz International Airport, known by its ICAO code MMZC and IATA code ZCL, serves Zacatecas in the Mexican state of Zacatecas at a field elevation of 7,141 feet. The airport sits roughly 75 nautical miles from Aguascalientes International Airport and handles a mix of cross-border business aviation traffic tracked by the FAA alongside its role as the primary air gateway for the region. Its single long asphalt runway supports a range of aircraft types, and the airport's high-altitude setting is a standing consideration for performance planning.
Runways
General Leobardo C. Ruiz International Airport has one paved runway, 02/20, 9,843 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
General Leobardo C. Ruiz International Airport recorded 741 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in September. Cross-border business aviation traffic at MMZC concentrates around September and April, with the fewest operations recorded in November, according to FAA TFMSC data for 2025.
Cross-border movements to the United States, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month September, 90 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
May is the warmest month, with average highs of 82.8°F, and January the coldest, at 67.5°F.
Weather station is on the field. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: Servicio Meteorológico Nacional.
Alternates
General Leobardo C. Ruiz International Airport has one alternate within 75 NM. The nearest alternate is Aguascalientes International Airport (MMAS), 74.64 NM south.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at MMZC
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 MMZC.
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 is the runway length at MMZC?
General Leobardo C. Ruiz International Airport, identified as MMZC, has a single paved runway, 02/20, measuring 9,843 feet long and 148 feet wide. The surface is asphalt. This length places MMZC among airports capable of handling a wide range of business aircraft without runway-limited weight restrictions in most conditions. The airport sits at a field elevation of 7,141 feet, which is a relevant factor for takeoff performance planning at this length. Crews should still account for density altitude given the elevation when calculating required runway distance.
How high is the field elevation at Zacatecas International Airport, and why does it matter?
Zacatecas International Airport, MMZC, sits at a field elevation of 7,141 feet, one of the higher airport elevations in the region. This altitude reduces air density and directly affects takeoff and landing performance, particularly for turbine aircraft on warmer days. Dispatchers should factor density altitude into weight and balance planning, especially outside the cooler winter months. The single runway, at 9,843 feet, provides considerable margin to offset performance penalties tied to the elevation. Planning should treat elevation as a standing factor on every flight rather than a seasonal consideration.
What does cross-border business aviation traffic look like at ZCL?
Cross-border business aviation traffic at ZCL, as tracked by the FAA TFMSC for 2025, totaled 741 operations against 4,677 total cross-border operations for the year. This traffic is not evenly distributed across the year, with September recording the highest monthly count at 90 operations. April and October also show elevated activity compared to the winter months. Because Mexico is the host country, these figures reflect only the cross-border flights captured by the FAA rather than the airport's full operational volume. Dispatchers relying on these numbers should treat them as a cross-border indicator, not a total traffic count.
Is there a seasonal pattern to plan around at MMZC?
Yes, MMZC shows a concentrated seasonal pattern in its cross-border business aviation traffic. Monthly figures from FAA TFMSC data for 2025 range from a low of 48 operations in November to a high of 90 in September. April also stands out with 81 operations, while the winter months of November through January remain comparatively quiet. Dispatchers scheduling flights through Zacatecas International Airport should anticipate higher cross-border activity in September and April relative to the rest of the year. This pattern applies specifically to the cross-border segment tracked by the FAA, not necessarily to the airport's full traffic profile.
What are typical high temperatures at Zacatecas International Airport throughout the year?
Zacatecas International Airport, MMZC, has a mild high-altitude climate with maximum temperatures that stay moderate year-round. May is the warmest month at 82.8°F, while January is the coolest at 67.5°F. The range between the warmest and coolest months is relatively narrow, reflecting the moderating effect of the airport's elevation of 7,141 feet. Temperatures climb gradually from January through May, then ease slightly through the second half of the year. These figures are useful for general performance planning, though density altitude driven by elevation remains the more significant factor for aircraft operations here.