Brazil expects more traffic through Congonhas airport ahead of auction

The Brazilian government is projecting increased air passenger numbers, including international flights from São Paulo state’s Congonhas airport, one of the country's busiest, which is likely to boost interest in a planned concession. 

Two new airlines will start operations from Congonhas in October. Ita asked for 14 slots, and Total, which has cargo services, will resume passenger flights with 12 slots, according to Ronei Glanzmann, secretary of civil aviation at the infrastructure ministry.  

"There is a lot of going on in Congonhas. We are going to increase the airport's current capacity, from 32 movements per hour to 44. We are in the process and certification, doing the work on the runway, expanding the departure lounge," said Glanzmann in an interview with Folha de S. Paulo newspaper. 

The government wants to attract foreign companies such as Flybondi and Jetsmart for international flights from the airport, with routes in South America, according to Glanzmann.

Congonhas is currently used for domestic flights and its main route is the connection with Santos Dumont airport in Rio de Janeiro. 

The government is seeking to attract investors for airport concessions planned for next year. 

"The attraction of international flights from Congonhas airport will tend to increase the interest of investors in the concession of this airport, even from new entrants," Fábio Falkenburger, a lawyer specialized in infrastructure contracts at Machado Meyer law firm, told BNamericas.

The government is planning to offer concessions to operate two of the country’s largest airports next year. 

Civil aviation agency Anac approved recently the draft of the notice for the auction of 16 airport concessions expected to generate investment of 8.8bn reais (US$1.64bn) during the 30-year contracts. 

The concessions will be offered in three blocks, combining busy and less busy terminals. Those on offer include Congonhas and Santos Dumont, Brazil's second and third busiest domestic airports.

According to Falkenburger, however, the plan to authorize international flights at Congonhas could create tension with GRU Airport, operator of the country's busiest airport, Guarulhos in São Paulo. GRU is 51%-owned by GRUPar (80% Invepar and 20% South Africa’s ACSA) and 49% by federal airport authority Infraero.