Vinci Airports is making a strategic move into the U.S. market, with concession and management contracts for eight U.S. airports. It is also acquiring airports in Europe and Costa Rica.
Vinci Airports has announced the acquisition of nine new airports (two freehold property, three concession, four management contracts) in the U.S., Europe and Costa Rica, along with three partial management contracts in American airports following acquisition of the airport portfolio held by Airports Worldwide.
The acquisition boosts Vinci Airports' global network, which now includes 45 airports in 11 countries on three continents. It also increases passenger trafic in its airports by 25.6 million to more than 182 million per year.
The portfolio acquired by Vinci Airports consists of:
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Two freeholds property: a 100% stake in Belfast International Airport in Northern Ireland, which welcomed 5.8 million passengers in 2017, and a 90.1% stake in Skavsta Airport near Stockholm, Sweden (2.1 million passengers).
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Three airports under concession: a 100% stake in Orlando-Sanford International Airport in Florida (2.9 million passengers), under a concession contract covering operation of the current terminal and car park with a residual term of 21 years; together with co-control stakes in Costa Rica's two major airports, i.e. a 48.75% stake in Juan Santamaria International Airport in San José and a 45% stake in Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport in Liberia (4.8 million and 1.1 million passengers, respectively), under concession contracts with residual terms of eight and 13 years.
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Four full management contracts covering Hollywood Burbank Airport (4.7 million passengers), and Ontario International Airport (4.2 million passengers) in California; and Macon Downtown Airport and Middle Georgia Regional Airport in Georgia.
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Three partial management contracts covering U.S. airports: Atlantic City International Airport in New Jersey, Raleigh Durham International Airport in North Carolina, and part of the international terminal at the airport in Atlanta, Georgia, the world's largest airport in terms of traffic.
This acquisition allows Vinci Airports to make a strategic move into the U.S., giving it an entry point into the world's largest air transport market.
It also strengthens Vinci Airports' presence in Europe, where the group already operates 12 airports in France and 10 in Portugal, plus the Nikola-Tesla airport in Belgrade, Serbia, for which Vinci Airports signed a concession contract on 22nd March this year. Lastly, the acquisition of the two main airports in Costa Rica, an increasingly popular tourist destination, strengthens Vinci Airports' positions in South and Central America, where it manages the airports in Santiago, Chile and Salvador, Brazil, together with six airports in the Dominican Republic, including the airport in Santo Domingo.