Doppelmayr builds high-capacity urban ropeway for Guatemala City

Guatemala City is starting a new chapter in the history of public transportation with the launch of the AeroMetro project. It is not only the first urban ropeway system in the country but also one of the largest of its kind in the world—both in operational capacity and infrastructure. The Doppelmayr Group is the chosen partner for realizing this game-changing new public transport mode.

Consisting of two lines with a total length of 8.6 kilometers and twelve stations, the urban ropeway solution AeroMetro will connect Guatemala City with the municipality of Mixco, North-West of the Guatemalan capital. With the ability to transport 5,500 passengers per hour and direction per line, it will be another powerful urban ropeway system built by the Doppelmayr Group. The detachable gondola lifts will have 495 cabins, each offering space for twelve passengers, ensuring both efficiency and comfort. Both lines are planned to be completed in 2028.

"Building ropeways in vibrant cities like Guatemala City is an honour for the entire Doppelmayr team. We are proud to have once again been chosen as a partner in realizing an iconic example of modern transportation. This ropeway system will improve mobility for many people," says Thomas Pichler, Member of the Doppelmayr Group's Executive Board.

Social and environmental impact

The AeroMetro will have a positive impact on the lives of everybody who is travelling between Mixco and Guatemala City every day. It significantly reduces commute times during peak hours from up to two hours to just 32 minutes. The barrier-free ropeway is fully integrated into the urban public transport system, connecting directly to the local Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system. It will operate for 17 hours a day, 360 days a year. The system is 100% electric, enabling a significant reduction in pollutant emissions compared to other modes of public transport.

"The AeroMetro demonstrates how technology and sustainability can transform our cities. It will deliver efficiency and connectivity and greatly improve citizens' quality of life by reducing commute times and pollution," said Konstantinos Panagiotou, CEO of Doppelmayr Guatemala.

Urban transformation with a vision for the future

By connecting densely populated areas with important economic, educational and healthcare centers, including a hospital and the airport, AeroMetro is changing the way thousands of people travel every day. It offers reliable transportation on a new level to communities that have been underserved by traditional infrastructure in the past. It is not just a transport solution, but a tool for urban transformation.

This project marks a significant step for Guatemala towards a more equitable and resilient urban model, where access to safe, fast, inclusive and sustainable transport becomes a right for all.

"AeroMetro marks a new chapter for transportation in Guatemala City and the entire metropolitan area. This project demonstrates that, when local governments and the private sector work together with a shared vision, it is possible to develop infrastructure that improves the lives of thousands of people every day," said Ricardo Quiñónez, mayor of Guatemala City.

Urban Ropeways Gain Momentum Across Latin America

With this project, Guatemala marks a milestone by becoming the first country in the region to implement a high-capacity urban ropeway system for public transportation expanding the presence of this technology in Latin American. Since the commissioning of Doppelmayr's first urban ropeway in Venezuela in 2009, the technology has become firmly established throughout the region as a sustainable and efficient mobility solution.

Across Latin America, the Doppelmayr Group is shaping urban mobility in Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, and Venezuela. Around 65 kilometers of Doppelmayr ropeways are already in operation, with a further 50 kilometers under construction.

These figures underscore Latin America's leading role in the integration of ropeway technology into urban mobility concepts. By complementing existing transport infrastructure, ropeways are helping cities improve connectivity, reduce travel times, and provide reliable access to densely populated and topographically challenging areas.

Factbox:

• System: 12-MGD AeroMetro

• Location: Guatemala City (GTM)

• Length: 8.6 km (Line 1: 2.1 km | Line 2: 6.5 km)

• Capacity: 5,500 p/h

• Speed: 6.5 m/s

• Number of stations: 12 (Line 1: 4 | Line 2: 8)

• Number of cabins: 495 (Line 1: 135 | Line 2: 360)

• Passengers per cabin: 12

• Operation hours: 17 h/day, 360 days/year

• Planned completion: 2028

The Doppelmayr Group represents quality, technology and market leadership in the construction of ropeway systems for passenger and material transport as well as high-tech intralogistics solutions. The company looks back on 130 years of corporate history and a century of experience in the planning, development, design, production, and construction of ropeways. This proven technology and the reliability it provides have helped to make ropeways a popular and high-performance mobility solution in skiing and recreation regions as well as in cities and at airports worldwide.