CCR invests almost R$160 million in Bagé, Pelotas and Uruguaiana airports

With investments on the order of almost R$160 millionthe airports of Pelotas, Uruguaiana and Bagé, managed by CCR Aeroportos, must be delivered renovated by the end of November, the deadline set out in the concession contract for the South Block. Despite this, Fernando Fortes, works manager at CCR Aeroportos in Rio Grande do Sul, believes that the terminals The works can be completed in October.

The renovations, carried out over just over a year, include expansions, construction of new passenger terminals and opening of commercial operations. According to Fortes, these investments are part of the first stage of the cyclealso provided for in the contract. “It’s a structuring phase: we take the assets and adapt them, making them more comfortable and in compliance with aeronautical legislation”, considered Fortes. Uruguaiana airport received R$63 million, while Pelotas received R$51 million and Bagé, around R$43 million.

“The three airports were in good maintenance conditions when we started managing them. The only caveat was the floors. The buildings, however, were undersized in relation to the aircraft they operated; the departure and arrival halls were uncomfortable”, he stated. According to him, new investments must be made when airports are close to their maximum capacity.

According to CCR, Pelotas currently has daily flights to São Paulo: seven weekly flights to Viracopos International Airport, operated by Azul; to Guarulhos International Airport, there are six weekly routes operated by Gol and two by Latam. Uruguaiana airport has two weekly flights to Curitiba, operated by Azul, and one weekly flight to Florianópolis, by Voepass. Since the closure of Porto Alegre Airport, Bagé only operates general aviation flights (private and military aircraft, among others).

According to CCR, the works expanded passenger processing capacity. The expectation is that “airports will become even more attractive for airlines to offer new flights.” Despite this, the company emphasizes that the decision to expand flights is up to operators.

The passenger terminal at João Simões Lopes Neto International Airport, in Pelotas (PET), is expandingand 930 m² to 2,100 m²with new departure and arrival halls already opened. The renovation also includes modifications to the lobby and check-in area. In total, more than 95% of the works have already been completed in Pelotas. Work continues in the external area, with the adaptation of signage in the main apron, the existing taxiway and the implementation of runway end safety areas (RESA) on the take-off and landing runway.

At Rubem Berta Airport, in Uruguaiana (URG), the new departure and arrival halls have also been opened. With more than 95% of works completedthe interventions cover the adaptation of RESA (end-of-runway safety areas) to current legislation, signage for the expansion of the aircraft apron, adjustments to the taxiway accessing the apron and the implementation of PAPI (visual aid system for approach) .

At Comandante Gustavo Kraemer International Airport, in Bagé (BGX), which had already undergone a revitalization of the passenger terminal, the works are concentrated in the external area, called the AR side. With 90% of the progress completed, the construction of the new aircraft apron, improvements to the landing and take-off runway safety zones, a new taxiway and the implementation of PAPI are being carried out.

All airports are able to receive night flights and can accommodate large aircraft for commercial operations. Pelotas and Uruguaiana have three positions (parking lots) for these planes, while Bagé has two positions. “Regional aviation proved to be essential for Rio Grande do Sul in 2024. Investing in three of the most important terminals in the interior of the State promotes the development of the economy in several sectors”, stated Marcius Moreno, executive manager of CCR Aeroportos, in notice.

CCR Aeroportos is a business division of the CCR Group that operates 20 airports in four countries. In these operations, CCR Aeroportos moves around 43 million passengers per year. In Rio Grande do Sul, the company acquired the operations of the South and Central blocks, including Pelotas International Airport, in 2021. In 2022, the concessionaire began administration, with a term of 30 years.