The Chilean Ministry of Public Works (MOP) has awarded the Diego Aracena de Iquique International Airport in Tarapacá Region.

MOP selected Consorcio Aeropuertos Asociados, formed by A Port Chile S.A. and Zurich Airport Latin America S.A., as the preferred bidder. The team is the current concessionaire and it had a contract to March 2018. Also in Chile, Zürich Airport has the concession to run Antofagasta Cerro Moreno Airport, which serves 2 million passengers a year.

As we reported las April, another two teams submitted proposals: a consoritum formed by Sacyr Concesiones Chile Spa and Agencias Universales S.A. and Icafal Inversiones - Empresa Constructora Belfi. The Icafal-Belfi proposal was rejected as it did not meet the requirements of the tender process.

The airport is located 48 kilometers south of Iquique, the capital city of the Tarapacá Region. The project involves the renovation and modernization of the second terminal.

It also contemplates the expansion of the parking and pedestrian areas and the upgrading of the existing terminal and the runways system. The concession period is for an initial 18 years, up to a maximum 25 years (dependent on traffic growth) and the construction works are expected to be completed in 2021. The total investment amounts to US$60 millions.

This would be the fourth concession of the airport.

Zürich Airport said:

“A-port Chile will expand and improve the airport’s infrastructure to achieve its maximum growth potential, with the mission to offer best quality services to passengers, airlines and other stakeholders.”