The current concessionaire is in pole position to retain the contract for the Rafael Núñez International Airport PPP, a source close to the project tells IJGlobal.

The current concessionaire (UTCAC) comprises:

• AENA (Spanish)
• Conecol (Colombian)
• Grupo Cartagena (a consortium of local firms)

This consortium in August 1996 acquired the 27-year airport concession, which expires on 1 September 2023.

The project sponsors have formed a new entity – Estructura Plural Aeropuerto de Cartagena – and submitted an unsolicited proposal for the expansion of the airport.

Colombia’s National Infrastructure Agency (ANI) announced on 17 January 2023 that third parties could register interest and bid for the new, 8.5-year, $105 million concession until May 2023.

If additional companies bid for the concession, the project is expected to be awarded in H2 2023.