Spotlight: The top airport projects in Brazil

Brazil's federal government will hold a series of public hearings this month before drafting the final terms of an auction to offer a concession for six airports in the fourth quarter. 

The airports serve Goiânia, Palmas, Teresina, Petrolina, São Luís and Imperatriz and will be offered as a single package, according to civil aviation agency ANAC. 

The government intends to set a minimum bid of 49.7mn reais (US$11.3mn) and investments by the winner in the airports are put at 4.5bn reais in the next 30 years. 

Despite the slow growth in passenger numbers in recent years, airport auctions are attracting interest from international players due to the brighter outlook for the coming years and because cash flows are denominated in US dollars, amounting to a natural foreign exchange hedge for investors.

State governments and private sector players are also looking for new investment opportunities in the segment. Using the BNamericas project profile database, we take a look at the main projects in the sector. 

No 1 - New São Paulo airport (NASP)

The project awarded to infrastructure company CCR involves building a new airport to serve the Sao Paulo metropolitan area that would complement Guarulhos airport. After the final phase is completed it should be able to handle 48 takeoffs/landings an hour and serve 50mn passengers a year. The runways will be built to accommodate the world's largest planes, such as the Airbus A380.

Capex is put at US$2bn. 

No. 2 - Campos Gerais international airport

The US$1.4bn project involves construction of runways with capacity for the Airbus A380/380F. 

The airport, in Paraná state, will be the largest in Latin America with capacity to handle 750,000 takeoffs and landings a year. The airport will focus on freight, with access to railways, ports and highways, and should be a regional cargo hub.

Companhia Aeroportuária dos Campos Gerais (CACG) has been seeking investors for the project. 

No. 3 - 20 de Setembro international airport

The project involves building an international airport on a 2,500ha site in Rio Grande do Sul state. It is intended to be an alternative to the Salgado Filho international airport, which is expected to become increasingly congested. Capex is put at US$505mn. 

No 4 - Pouso Alegre airports concession

Located in Minas Gerais state, the project has capex of US$453mn, building one airport and operating another via a concession. The international airport serving Pouso Alegre will be known as Padre Senador José Bento Leite Ferreira de Melo.

No 5 - Intervales airport

The Triângulo Mineiro and Alto Paranaíba international airport project involves the integration of highway, air and rail transportation. The project is designed to benefit from its proximity to freight terminals in Campinas and Guarulhos. It is also strategically located, as it is 500km from Brasília, Belo Horizonte and São Paulo. It is part of the Intervales center for economic development master plan, which includes the transformation of rural into urban areas.

Capex is put at US$135mn and it will be located in Uberaba and Uberlândia.