The Agencia Nacional de Infraestructura (ANI) in Colombia is making steady progress in the structuring of the Private Initiative (IP) for the new Cartagena airport, known as Ciudadela Aeroportuaria Cartagena de Indias (CACI), with a target to determine its feasibility by February 2026. The project, currently under evaluation for the feasibility study submitted by the project’s originator, involves additional analyses to meet specific requirements from the Aeronáutica Civil and the DIAN (Colombian tax authority). ANI’s president, Óscar Torres Yarzagaray, highlighted that the agency has conducted 26 socialization meetings with authorities and communities in Bayunca, the proposed location for the airport, though notably without the attendance of Cartagena’s mayor, Dumek Turbay.

The new airport, to be funded entirely by private investment of $6.55 trillion (approximately USD 1.5 billion), will feature a 3,100-meter runway, a modern cargo terminal, and a passenger terminal exceeding 100,000 square meters, capable of handling up to 17 million passengers annually. Concurrently, ANI is supporting upgrades to the existing Rafael Núñez Airport, with 63 community engagement sessions held to discuss improvements, though delays persist due to the local authorities’ failure to respond to permit requests since 2024. ANI has resorted to legal measures, such as a right of petition, to push for progress. The agency remains committed to advancing these projects to boost Cartagena’s economy and regional development through enhanced transportation infrastructure.