three Brazilian airports privatized, what next?
So finally three Brazilian airports have been (kind of) privatized: Guarulhos international airport in São Paulo, Viracopos international airport in Campinas, state of São Paulo, and Brasilia international airport. The interest raised by the concessions was big and it was reflected on offers 347% above the initial estimate (what joke of an estimate was that?).
Each airport will be managed by a international consortium that includes an existing airport operator each.
- the group that won Guarulhos includes operator ACSA, responsible for the airports of Johannesburg and Cape City in South Africa.
- the group that won Viracopos includes operator Egis Avia, managing airpors in Gabon, Ivory Coast and the French Polynesia.
- Brasilia was given to a group including operator Corporación América, responsible for scores of airports, most of them in Argentina.
We are sad as the auction took place before a model for the Brazilian airports was even drafted. The airports are being handed to private firms assuming they will do better than when they were being managed by the public sector. But notorious Infraero (the Brazilian airport authority) will retain a 49% share on the privatized airports. How will the new model survive along the old?
What will be the model implemented by the consortiums? The airport model in Gabon, Tahiti, Buenos Aires or Johannesburg (the only airport operated by the winning firms present on the Skytrax ranking, with just three stars)? An improved Infraero-style model? Or are we allowed to dream the consortiums will search for inspiration in five-star airports like Changi in Singapore or Hong Kong?
The privatized airports might generate bigger profits but, will the consumer pay even more for services that are already very expensive? An airport should serve its users (airlines, workers and passengers) and not be seen just as a profit-making machine. Profits should be a consequence of a job well done, not an end.
It should also be pointed out that an airport alone is not enough. If the state doesn’t provide air traffic controllers, safe air traffic control, sufficient amounts of customs and inmigration officers to meet the demand, ease of transportation to and from the airport and a clear public policy on aviation privatization will not change things.
For an interesting take on the the issue read also Brazil’s airports – a job for the brave.
Category: airports
Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
