The Chilean Ministry of Public Work’s General Directorate of Concessions has awarded the Northern Airport Network of Chile P3, which includes the airports of Atacama and Antofagasta, to the consortium comprising Sacyr Concesiones (70%) and Cointer (30%).
This P3 project foresees an investment of approximately €260 million for the expansion, improvement, and maintenance of the two airport infrastructures that will improve service quality and address an expected increase in passengers. Currently, they serve about three million people annually. The concession term is a maximum of 26 years.
With these two new infrastructures, Sacyr manages five airports in Chile.
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.
