El Salvador announces new tenders, works for airport expansion

This year will see the launch of various major infrastructure tenders and works under the project to expand San Salvador's Monseñor Oscar Arnulfo Romero international airport, according to El Salvador's autonomous executive port commission (CEPA).

CEPA, the authority in charge of operating airport services in the country, is expecting to invest some US$46mn this year to carry out different works as part of the expansion, the president of the authority, Nelson Vanegas (pictured), was reported as saying by local daily El Mundo.

The funds to pay for the developments will come from savings made in previous works, as well as from a US$100mn securitization process.

The tender for the expansion of the airport's terminal building is expected to be launched in August, so the contact would be awarded by the end of the year, according to Vanegas. The tender's estimated price tag is US$20mn.

The official said that additional tenders related to the construction of the terminal building infrastructure and other exterior works will be launched starting in May.

Construction of four passenger waiting lounges, the tender for which was launched last year, is expected to be finished by July or August of this year after beginning in December, at a cost of US$6.9mn.

The works to expand the airport's parking lot started on March 31 and will require an estimated investment of US$6.5mn.

A new aircraft parking platform, with capacity to host four or five class C and D aircraft, was completed in December with an investment of US$5.7mn, some US$2.8mn of which was provided through the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

In March, CEPA also completed works to expand the airport's cargo terminal. The project required a US$1mn investment.

The works announced by CEPA for this year correspond to the second phase of the project. Vanegas told the paper that the estimated investment to carry out both phases is US$70mn.

According to the master plan presented by CEPA during the past government administration, the terminal expansion will be divided into four phases to be carried out by 2032.

The two initial phases involve expanding the passenger terminals to receive 3.6mn passengers a year, while capacity will rise to 6.6mn with the conclusion of the project. Phase I also includes improvements to parking lots, green areas, surrounding streets, signaling and lighting. Phase II entails building seven additional departure lounges as well as more aircraft parking spaces. Phases III and IV involve medium- and long-term expansions, according to market needs.