Fraport signs concession agreements for Fortaleza and Porto Alegre Airports in Brazil

Fraport AG has signed the concession agreements with the Brazilian government to manage and develop Fortaleza (FOR) and Porto Alegre (POA) airports. Fraport AG was the successful bidder at the government’s public auction on March 16, 2017, and should take over operations at the Fortaleza and Porto Alegre gateways by the beginning of 2018. The delay between the successful bid and signing the concession was because Fraport AG had to establish Brazilian subsidiaries.
According to Aletta von Massenbach, Fraport AG’s senior executive vice president for Global Investments and Management: “We are working closely with Infraero – the current operator of the two airports – along with the SAC (Civil Aviation Secretary of the Brazilian Presidency), ANAC (National Civil Aviation Agency), and other competent state institutions in advancing the transition process for handing over operations at both airports. The concession agreements outline vital mandatory infrastructure projects that will significantly enhance overall operations, service performance and capacity – thus benefitting airlines, passengers, airport business partners, as well as helping drive economic development in the respective airport regions served by Fortaleza and Porto Alegre airports.”
Terms of the concession agreements mean the newly developed subsidiary, Fraport Brasil, will be required to develop the infrastructure at Fortaleza and Porto Alegre airports via a so-called Mandatory Construction Program which includes expansion of the existing terminals, extending the existing runways, refurbishing taxiways and apron areas, and re-designing the airport road system. In addition, both airports will have new automated baggage management and security screening systems, together with new aircraft boarding bridges. There will also be numerous refurbishment projects at the existing passenger terminals of FOR and POA.
Andrea Pal has been appointed as the chief executive officer of Fraport Brasil, having previously worked for Fraport AG at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg, Russia, where she held executive management responsibilities and served as deputy general manager and chief financial officer.