RIOgaleão Invests R$ 1.1 Billion in Terminal Upgrades Amidst TCU Decision
RIOgaleão, the concessionaire operating Rio de Janeiro’s Galeão International Airport since 2014, has announced plans to invest R$ 1.1 billion in terminal upgrades over the next three years. This significant investment comes in the wake of a decision by Brazil’s Court of Audit (TCU) regarding the airport’s concession agreement.
According to reports from oglobo.globo.com, RIOgaleão is preparing for a simplified bidding process for the airport’s concession, which the company refers to as a "market test." The investment will be allocated towards various projects, including a logistics complex, hotel, and shopping center.
The TCU’s decision aims to align the concession agreement with the rules governing other airport concessions granted after the Galeão’s. Specifically, the court has ruled that the concessionaire’s payment to the government, known as the "outorga," should be based on a variable model. This change is expected to bring greater financial equilibrium and adherence to the sector’s reality.
As reported by oglobo.globo.com, RIOgaleão believes that this new model will allow for a more balanced and sustainable concession agreement. The company’s statement highlights that the variable outorga model, introduced in the 5th round of concessions, has enabled greater financial equilibrium and alignment with the sector’s reality.
The investment plans of RIOgaleão have been welcomed by various stakeholders, including Mauro Viegas Filho, president of the Infrastructure Business Council at Firjan. According to Viegas Filho, the agreement represents a significant step forward for Rio de Janeiro’s airport system.
The state’s Secretary of State for Civil Affairs, Nicola Miccione, also expressed satisfaction with the TCU’s decision, stating that it represents "another important step for Rio de Janeiro, within a package of measures aimed at achieving equilibrium in our state’s airport system."
In related news, experts have weighed in on the potential implications of the new concession agreement. Ana Cândida, an infrastructure lawyer at BMA Advogados, has highlighted the importance of the TCU’s approval and the simplified bidding process, which is expected to attract new investors and operators.
Thiago Nykiel, executive director of Infraway, a consulting firm, has noted that the new model appears to mitigate the risk of the Santos Dumont airport siphoning off passengers from the Galeão. According to Nykiel, this risk "seems well controlled" under the new agreement.
The developments surrounding RIOgaleão’s concession agreement and investment plans underscore the ongoing efforts to modernize and optimize Brazil’s airport infrastructure. As the sector continues to evolve, industry stakeholders will be closely monitoring the impact of these changes on the country’s aviation landscape.
This news article is based on reporting from oglobo.globo.com.
