Public Tender No.2/2023 regarding the concession to operate, manage and maintain Dr António Agostinho Neto International Airport (AIAAN) opened for bids this week.
Two bids were submitted, the first by the Consortium Corporacion América Airports (CAAP), Mota-Engil Engenharia & Construção, and BestFly, and the second by the Consortium China National Aero-Technology International Engineering Corporation (CAIEC) and Yunnan Airport Group.
These bids will be subjected to a detailed evaluation process, followed by a negotiation phase aimed at improving the bids accepted. The contracting public authority will only take the final award decision once these stages have been completed.
Consortium One
CAAP currently operates around 52 airports in six Latin American and European countries (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Ecuador, Armenia and Italy) and is the tenth largest private sector airport operator in the world, based on passenger traffic in 2019. According to 2023 statistics, CAAP-run airports served 81.1 million passengers, approximately 96.4% of pre-pandemic passenger numbers. In 2019 CAAP generated $1.6bn and made an operating profit of $223.6m, having invested £3.8bn.
Mota-Engil specialises in the construction and infrastructure management sector. Established more than 70 years ago, the Portuguese firm is one of the 30 largest European construction companies. With shareholdings in over 200 companies, Mota-Engil has left its mark on more than 30 countries, across three different geographical areas – Europe, Africa and Latin America.
BestFly is an Angolan aviation company founded in November 2009. The team is made up of qualified and experienced business aviation professionals in the country, and accounts for more than 80% of the national ground handling market. It also offers charter flights and aircraft management.
Consortium Two
China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation is a Chinese state-owned defence company with a core business in aviation products and technology. It is the exclusive representative of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) in the global market.
Yunnan Airport Group is also state-owned and one of the leading airport management companies in China, operating several airports in Yunnan province. The group currently manages 15 airports, serving 502,000 flights, handling 63.9 million passengers and more than 400,000 tonnes of cargo. It recorded a turnover of approximately RMB8.15bn ($1.12bn) in 2023.
The public tender
The public tender for the right to operate, manage and maintain AIAAN launched on November 17, 2023. The concession covers a period of 25 years, with the possibility of extending it for a further 15.
AIAAN has the capacity to handle up to 15 million passengers and 130,000 tonnes of goods a year. This airport infrastructure was conceived as one of the largest and most important airport and logistics hubs on the African continent, with a view to boosting trade, promoting mobility between African countries and consolidating Angola's connectivity with the world.
Cargo flights are currently being carried out at AIAAN, and it is expected that commercial flights (domestic, regional and international) will be fully operational by the last quarter of 2024.
