Brazil privatises 3 airports ahead of 2014 World Cup

THE Brazilian government privatised three airports, including Sao Paulo's Guarulhos, ahead of the 2014 World Cup through concessions valued at a total of US$14 billion during an auction yesterday.

The concessions to upgrade congested terminals at the three airports to handle the tens of thousands of tourists expected for the World Cup were won by three different consortiums made up of domestic and foreign operators.

The 20-year concession for Guarulhos, the country's biggest airport, was won by the Invepar-CSA consortium comprising three firms Invepar, OAS and South Africa's ACSA with an offer of more than US$9.4 billion.

The 30-year concession for the terminal at Viracopos airport in Campinas, Sao Paulo state, went to the Aeroportos Brasil concession, made up of Triunfo Participacoes, UTC Participacoes and France's Egis, with an offer of US$2.27 billion.

The 25-year concession for the terminal at Brasilia's President Juscelino Kubitschek airport was won by the Inframerica Aeroportos consortium made up of Engevix and Argentina's Corporacion America with an offer of US$2.6 billion.

The three airports together account for 30 per cent of passenger traffic in Brazil.

One key demand at the auction, held in Sao Paulo's Bovespa bourse, was that "the concessionaire of each airport must complete the work for the 2014 World Cup."

Brazil is racing against the clock to build or renovate the 12 arenas that will host the 2014 World Cup and to complete massive infrastructure projects for the event.AFP