Since 2012, Brazil has been experiencing a considerable change in airport terminals. Previously istered by the state company Infraero, and several other state companies, now a good part is in the hands of the private sector, through government concession programs.
It is undeniable that these concessions, even if carried out in an “experimental” way initially, added a lot to the infrastructure of Brazilian airports. The evolution is remarkable, even in those terminals that needed few changes after delivery to the private sector.
But there is still a long way to go for all airports in Brazilian capitals to gain adequate infrastructure and be ed on to the private sector. And in the near future, perhaps we will see all the capital's airports in the hands of the private sector.
This will occur through the two bidding processes that the current government needs to carry out in order to reduce Infraero's size to the maximum. all in all 22 terminals should be auctioned in early 2021, and another 22 to 24 terminals will be auctioned in early 2022, according to the latest forecasts.
The next concession (the 6th round) will take place for 22 airports distributed between the South Block, which covers the airports of Curitiba, Foz do Iguaçu, Londrina and Bacacheri (PR), Navegantes and ville (SC), and Pelotas, Uruguaiana and Bagé (RS); North Block, which includes the airports of Manaus, Tabatinga and Tefé (AM), Rio Branco and Cruzeiro do Sul (AC), Porto Velho (RO), and Boa Vista (RR); It's from Center Block, which includes the airports of Goiânia (GO), São Luís and Imperatriz (MA), Teresina (PI), Palmas (TO) and Petrolina (PE).
In 2022 comes another wave of concessions, the 7th round. The highlight of this event is the confirmed presence of Congonhas Airport, in São Paulo, and Santos Dumont, in Rio de Janeiro. In addition, terminals such as Macapá (AP) should enter this 2022 auction.
Despite this, up to 24 terminals will be auctioned in 2022, also following the block scheme, as in the 6th round of concessions, and without Infraero's participation. These rules were established during the Government of President Michel Temer, and have proven to guarantee more security and quality of investments for the airports granted.
If it manages to complete this process in 2022, the federal government will reach the mark of around 60 airports that were auctioned, but that were previously managed by Infraero.
Viracopos and Christmas
These two airports, located in Campinas and Rio Grande do Norte, respectively, will again be under concession by the government. These are part of the first concessions, which had complicated rules, and failed in some cases.
The rebidding of international airports Aluízio Alves (São Gonçalo do Amarante, in Rio Grande do Norte) and Viracopos (Campinas, in São Paulo) was approved by the government.
Viracopos airport, in Campinas, due to urgency, may enter the auction in the second half of 2021, while Aluízio Alves, in Natal, may be auctioned in the first half of 2022.
Withdrawal of Infraero's participation
In addition to the concessions for new airports, it was decided that the federal government will offer Infraero's shareholding to the current private partners of the terminals already granted in Brasília (DF), Confins (MG), Galeão (RJ) and Guarulhos (SP).
Operators have preemptive rights in the purchase, if they do not want to, the assets may be auctioned or sold to third parties. Currently, the state-owned company holds a 49% stake in each of these projects.
The forecast is to carry out this transition of participation in 2021, according to the financial condition of each of these four terminals. As we mentioned at the beginning of the article, these airports are part of the first concessions, which were carried out with “defective rules”.
Concession of state airports in São Paulo
In addition to concessions from the Federal Government, state governments are also on the same path. Some cede their airports to Infraero, with the purpose of carrying out the concession of these places through the Federal Government, others make their own concessions.
The Government of São Paulo, under the management of João Dória, established a plan to quickly grant 22 state airports. According to the government of São Paulo, the forecast is to hold the auction in December this year.
These airports will be delivered to the participating concessionaires in a project capable of handling 4,2 million engers in 2050. The total investment over 30 years should be R$ 233,4 million.
The auction of the 22 airports will be held in two lots, Southeast and Northeast, always prioritizing the combination of commercial aviation airports and those for executive aviation only.
There are nine airports involved in commercial aviation, which receive engers on regular flights, and 13 are dedicated to the executive mode. Ribeirão Preto Airport is the most attractive in the auction, which should take place in 2020.
