Brazil plans to attract investment of over US$800mn in regional airports

Brazil’s ports and airports ministry launched a public consultation on a government initiative to attract investments of up to 5bn reais (US$820mn) to improve regional airports via concessions. The initiative, called AmpliAR, involves constructing and modernizing up to 100 small and medium-sized airports. The ministry expects the auctions will take place this half, according to a statement. The initiative represents a rare opportunity for private sector operators to enter a highly consolidated sector. "The airport sector in Brazil is already quite mature. The only major airport that does not have a concession contract in force is Santos Dumont [in Rio de Janeiro]. The other opportunities in the sector are mainly related to regional airports, which are smaller," Bruno Werneck, an infrastructure lawyer and partner at Tauil & Chequer Advogados, a Brazilian law firm associated with global firm Mayer Brown, told BNamericas. Airport concession auctions started in 2011. Previously, federal airport authority Infraero administered the facilities. Now, private sector companies dominate more than 90% of the segment, such as local firms CCR, Socicam, Invepar, and XP, while international players include Aena Desarrollo, Vinci Airports, Inframérica, Fraport and Flughafen Zürich.<br/>