Ministry extends Arica airport concession bidding

Chile's public works ministry has extended to November 13 from Thursday (Oct.16) the deadline to submit offers for the concession to upgrade and operate northern Region I city Arica's Chacalluta airport, the ministry's concessions department announced. The extension was requested by the six companies that purchased bidding rules, a department official told BNamericas, adding that technical offers will be opened that same day, and economic offers December 16. Company names have not been disclosed. The contract involves investing some US$7.98mn to modernize and expand the passenger terminal to 4,700 sq. m, as well as its operation for 10 years. Chacalluta receives domestic flights as well as international flights from Argentina, Bolivia and Peru, according to the ministry, with traffic expected to more than double to 511,000 passengers/year by 2005. The project falls under the ministry's US$1.93bn, 2003-2004 concessions portfolio.