Airports / Mexico / JAL
El Lencero Airport.
Emiliano Zapata, Mexico · 3,127 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.2/5
Google rating
103 ratings
0
Operators based
3,127
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
40 nm
To the nearest alternate
General Heriberto Jara International Airport (VER).
Overview
El Lencero Airport (MMJA / JAL) sits in Emiliano Zapata, Mexico, where it functions as a mid-sized airport. The field lies at an elevation of 3,127 feet. The field has no airline schedules, which keeps it focused on private and general aviation flying.
JAL has no resident charter fleet; trips here are typically flown by operators repositioning from surrounding airports. Useful alternates include General Heriberto Jara International Airport (VER, 40 nm), El Tajín National Airport (PAZ, 77 nm), and Hermanos Serdán International Airport (PBC, 91 nm). JAL offers a single 5,577-foot paved runway, which supports charter types through the heavy jet class.
Quotes for flights out of JAL vary with aircraft type, repositioning, and schedule flexibility. The airport is also known as Xalapa. Use the cost estimator to model a trip from JAL, or browse verified operators serving the area.
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Field capability
ICAO
MMJA
IATA
JAL
FAA / Local
MMJA
Elevation
3,127 ft
Coordinates
19.4751° N · 96.7970° W
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Medium
Scheduled svc
No
Elevation vs Mexico fields
state range 10–8,466 ft
At 3,127 ft, JAL sits higher than 67% of the 72 Mexico fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 5,577 ft
- 08/265,577 ft × 82 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 5,577 ft
JAL's 5,577 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to heavy jets.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 40nmVERGeneral Heriberto Jara International AirportVeracruz
- 77nmPAZEl Tajín National AirportPoza Rica
- 91nmPBCHermanos Serdán International AirportPuebla
- 125nmMX-2118Base N°1 de la Fuerza Aérea Mexicana (General Alfredo Lezama Álvarez)Zumpango
- 126nmNLUFelipe Ángeles International AirportMexico City
- 129nmMEXMexico City Benito Juárez International AirportMexico City
Location
Open the full mapMMJA · El Lencero Airport · Emiliano Zapata, Mexico
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from JAL on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Houston (HOU) | 616 nm | 1h 50m |
| Austin (AUS) | 645 nm | 1h 54m |
| Dallas (DAL) | 803 nm | 2h 16m |
| Miami (MIA) | 989 nm | 2h 42m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 1,018 nm | 2h 46m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 1,133 nm | 3h 2m |
| Scottsdale (SCF) | 1,172 nm | 3h 8m |
| Denver (DEN) | 1,290 nm | 3h 24m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use JAL?
- El Lencero Airport's longest paved runway is 5,577 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to heavy jets. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at JAL?
- El Lencero Airport has one runway; the longest measures 5,577 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to JAL?
- The closest alternate is General Heriberto Jara International Airport (VER), about 40 nm away, followed by El Tajín National Airport (PAZ) at 77 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from JAL to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Houston about 1h 50m (616 nm), Austin about 1h 54m (645 nm), Dallas about 2h 16m (803 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.