Architects Norman Foster, Fernando Romero to build Mexico City airport

British architect Norman Foster and Mexican colleague Fernando Romero have had their design chosen for Mexico City's new $9.2-billion airport.

Foster is one of the world's leading architects and designed the Beijing Terminal 3 airport. Romero is the son-in-law of Mexican telecom magnate Carlos Slim.

The new Mexico City airport will cover nearly 11,400 acres (4,600 hectares) of former lakebed adjacent to the present, over-crowded facility. It will have six runways and capacity to serve 120 million passengers per year when it is finished.

The airy, lightweight, membrane-roofed terminal is designed in the form of a giant "X."

The old airport can handle only 32 million passengers per year. It will eventually be turned over to the city for recreational and educational use.