Sunport launches ABQ FlySide pass for visitors to experience airport amenities

If spending time at the airport sounds like your kind of fun, Albuquerque has some exciting news.

The ABQ FlySide visitor pass, introduced Tuesday by the Albuquerque International Sunport and the city of Albuquerque, will allow visitors to drop off travelers at the gate and explore the airport’s shops and restaurants past the security checkpoint without flying.

To get a pass, visitors must apply via the Sunport’s website. Passes are granted up to a week in advance and on the day of the visit, Sunport officials said in a news release.

“Our airport isn’t just about departures and arrivals — it’s about the experience,” the Sunport’s Acting Aviation Director Manny Manriquez said in a statement.

Pass holders must go through airport security just like ticketed passengers and cannot bring any airport contraband, including liquids that violate TSA rules, according to the Sunport website. Anyone visiting the airport via the FlySide pass must also have a valid passport or REAL ID-compliant driver’s license.

The pass is free, airport officials said, and is only available for visitors age 18 and up for the time being due to federal restrictions. Pass holders must use airport parking like regular travelers, Sunport officials said.

“Airports used to be places where anyone could meet their traveler at the gate, and visitor pass programs — now used at more than a dozen airports across the nation — help bring back a bit of that nostalgia and connection,” said Sunport spokesperson Diana Lopez in a statement, adding that the pass will allow family members to escort elderly or special needs travelers all the way to the gate.

Sunport businesses will offer 10% off purchases for both ticketed passengers and FlySide pass holders every Saturday in December, the news release said.

The Sunport is still undergoing a massive $90 million renovation that began in 2022, which has so far added food and drink options and is improving airport infrastructure and accessibility.

The Washington Post ranked the Sunport No. 7 on its list of the 40 best airports in the United States in June, for its Southwestern character and functional design.

“We want all New Mexicans to enjoy the place that travelers from around the world are already celebrating,” Lopez said.