Munich Airport to take active role in operation of Brazil’s Confins International

Munch Airport has announced it intends to take an “active role” in the operation of Confins International Airport in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The German airport won a 30-year concession to operate the airport with its consortium partners Brazilian construction group CCR and Zurich Airport on 22 November 2013.

The consortium will begin running the airport in August 2014. CCR holds a 75% stake in the consortium, while Zurich Airport holds 24% and Munich Airport holds a 1% stake. However, Munich Airport said it has the option to increase its stake to 12.5%, meaning both Munich and Zurich airports would each hold half of the remaining 25% stake after CCR.

Munich Airport’s supervisory board is expected to make a final decision in June on the size of the stake to be held by Munich. Thomas Weyer, Munich Airport CFO and head of infrastructure, said, “This is a fantastic step for Munich Airport. By taking a stake in an airport outside Bavaria for the first time, we have the opportunity to apply our expertise in a highly attractive growth market.”

Belo Horizonte, which opened in 1984, handled 10.2 million passengers last year, making it Brazil's fifth-largest airport. Under current forecasts, passenger traffic is expected to increase to more than four times the current amount over the next 30 years.

At present, the airport in Belo Horizonte has two passenger terminals, a cargo terminal, one runway and 24 aircraft park positions. To prepare the airport to handle the projected growth, the consortium intends to pursue an ambitious expansion plan in the coming years, including the construction of an additional passenger terminal and a second runway.