A consortium comprising Sacyr Concesiones (70%) and Cointer (30%) has been selected as the awardee of the Northern Airport Network of Chile P3 project bundle, encompassing the Atacama and Antofagasta airports. The contract covers the operation and expansion of the two terminals of both airports.
This P3 calls for an investment of 7,012,000 UF (approximately €266 million) and has a maximum concession term of 26 years.
Once the consortium is selected, the award process will begin, which will be finalized in the coming months.
This contract includes the expansion, improvement, and maintenance of both airport infrastructures to improve service quality for an increasing passenger count.
By expanding these airfields, the capacity of the terminals to accommodate the growing air traffic will increase and boost the regional economy and transport.
Fernando Ruiz de la Torre, General Manager of Sacyr Concesiones Chile, stressed the relevance of this project: "We are fully aware of the importance of these airports for northern Chile, acting as key connections for Antofagasta and Atacama and for the transport of the national mining force. We will put all our know-how into this project, as Sacyr Concesiones has extensive previous experience as airport operators with Chacalluta in Arica; El Loa in Calama; and El Tepual in Puerto Montt."
Antofagasta Terminal
Andrés Sabella airport in Antofagasta will triple the current surface area, from the current 10,192 sqm to 31,422 sqm. In addition, it will increase parking spaces from 572 to 853 and commercial aircraft parking stands will grow from 8 to 10.
The new terminal will feature five new jet bridges, 10 automatic check-in terminals, 26 traditional counters, among other improvements.
This airport is the second busiest in Chile, with 2.3 million passengers in 2023.
Expanding Atacama Airport fivefold
At the Desierto de Atacama Airport, the consortium will increase the passenger terminal’s surface area fivefold to 18,274 sqm.
The project also includes the incorporation of four boarding bridges, since the enclosure does not currently operate with this system. Likewise, the expansion will add 161 new parking spaces to 343, and parking spaces for commercial aircraft will grow from three to five.
Works will begin in 2027 and the new facilities will come into operation in 2030. Atacama Airport welcomed 723,000 passengers in 2023.
