Spanish group will take over Congonhas in up to two weeks – 03/28/2023 – Market

Anac (National Civil Aviation Agency) signed with the Spanish group Aena, this Tuesday (28), the concession contract for Congonhas airport and ten other airports in the seventh round of concession by Infraero. The concession, however, only takes effect within two weeks, after initial payment.

Infraero should sign the contract this Wednesday (29), according to information from the Ministry of Ports and Airports.

In a note, the folder denied that the state-owned aviation company would file a lawsuit against the Congonhas Airport concession process, as published by the newspaper O Globo this Tuesday.

Despite the signature, Aena still needs to settle the first installment of the initial grant of BRL 2.45 billion. This must occur within two weeks, the deadline for the concession period to begin to take effect.

The company presented BRL 1.2 billion of the payment in precatorios — Union debt securities with a final and unappealable judgment.

Despite being a payment option guaranteed by a constitutional amendment enacted last year, the privatization notice for this block of airports provided for this modality.

However, there have been internal discussions between Aena and Anac regarding the receipt of these papers since the end of the year, an impasse that remains due to an ordinance by the AGU (Advocacy-General of the Union), which suspended the use of precatories until a new ordinance with the rules is edited.

Aena has two weeks to resolve this imbroglio. The company believes that the bonds will be accepted because it is a constitutional requirement, but says it has its own resources to make the payment.

The contract includes 11 airports in São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul and Pará. Congonhas is the flagship of this block granted at the end of last year.

Once the effectiveness of the contract is confirmed, Aena should start operating the airports in the third quarter of 2023.

Through its advisory services, Aena informs that it has complied with all pre-contractual obligations, including the payment of BRL 813.9 million, which includes BRL 772.9 million referring to Infraero’s workforce adaptation program.

For the concessionaire, Infraero has until the end of this Tuesday (28) to sign the contract, which has already been signed by both Aena and Anac, which exercises the granting power.

The Ministry of Ports and Airports also confirmed the signing of the concession contract. “Now, it is up to Aena to pay the grant within the period stipulated in the contract”, said the folder.

Infraero did not respond until the publication of this report.