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Honduras' public-private promotion agency, Coalianza, has announced that Constructora de Servicios Aeroportuarios Integrados S.A. (SAISA) has got the award of a concession contract for the design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of the new Palmerola airport in Honduras.

SAISA is a company specializing in airport services and with experienced in construction and management of airport infrastructure. It is owned by Grupo Terra, the company that manages Interairports, concessionaire of four international airports in Honduras.

Ten companies from different countries had shown interest in the process in its first stage: Mota Engil (Portugal), Corporación América (Argentina), Agencias Universales S.A. (Chile), CHEC (China), SAISA (Honduras), CONCAY (Colombia), Hidalgo e Hidalgo (Ecuador), SINOHYDRO (China), A-Port Operaciones (Brazil) and COPRECA (Spain).

Two companies had been shortlisted to submit final bids, CONCAY and SAISA. On January 6th, Coalianza only received the final bid from SAISA.

The estimated project investment is US$107 million and the concession period will be 30 years.

The Palmerola airport will be located on a former airbase on the major road between Honduras capital and San Pedro de Sula, just 70km from the capital and a 50 minute journey time, 13 km from the city of Comayagua.

Spanish consultancy firm based in Barcelona, Advanced Logistic Group (ALG), carried out the initial project studies and specifications. The project includes construction of runway shoulders, a new control tower, a 14,000m2 passenger terminal and a 1500m2 cargo terminal.

The airport is expected to have a maximum capacity of 2.1mn passengers per year in 2045. The works will begin next year and the Palmerola new International Airport is expected to be operational in the second half of 2016.