TCU must approve Congonhas airport concession

The government will receive the green light from the TCU (Union Court of Auditors) for the concession of 15 airports in the country, including Congonhas, located in São Paulo. The process must be unanimously approved this Wednesday (1st) by the ministers of the control body.

The Executive gains, with this, the possibility of auctioning Congonhas even this year – reinforcing the campaign of former Infrastructure Minister Tarcísio de Freitas in the race for the government of São Paulo. The sale could become a showcase for him, who led the concessions program of Jair Bolsonaro (PL).

The government has a quick concession process, with the publication of a public notice by Anac (National Civil Aviation Agency) within three days after the TCU’s approval. The Minister of Infrastructure, Marcelo Sampaio (who succeeded Tarcísio), works with this estimate and has the approval of the court to proceed with the procedures.

Despite the progress in plans, the government was unable to fulfill its promise to complete the sale of all 49 airports and make Infraero a regional operator and service provider for the terminals granted — especially the smaller ones.

The assets under analysis account for 15.8% of paid passengers in the Brazilian air transport market and, if fully granted, will guarantee investments of around R$7.3 billion throughout the concession contract.

According to the proposal to be approved by the control body, the airports were grouped into three blocks.

The first, aimed at general aviation, will have Campo de Marte (SP) and Jacarepaguá (RJ) airports — with a forecast of R$ 560 million in investments. The grant (payment to the State for the right to exploit the asset) is R$138 million.

The second block (called Norte II) is formed by the airports of Belém (PA) and Macapá (AP), with planned investments of around R$ 875 million — and grants of R$ 57 million.

The third block will be the most disputed. Led by Congonhas, considered the “jewel in the crown”, it also has the airports of Campo Grande (MS), Corumbá (MS), Ponta Porã (MS), Santarém (PA), Marabá (PA), Carajás (PA), Altamira (PA), Uberlândia (MG), Uberaba (MG) and Montes Claros (MG). The planned investment is R$ 5.89 billion, with a grant of R$ 255 million.

The seventh round underwent adaptations. Initially, the inclusion of Santos Dumont (RJ) was planned, but, after challenges from the government of Rio de Janeiro, Tarcísio, then Minister of Infrastructure, decided to leave him for a new round and grant him together with Galeão, also from Rio de Janeiro.

The postponement took place amid a discussion about the re-bidding of Galeão, arising from a return request made by the current concessionaire – Changi Airports, from Singapore.

What’s at stake in the 7th round of airport auction:

• North Block II: Belém International Airport – Val de Cans – Júlio Cezar Ribeiro -Belém/PA (SBBE) and Alberto Alcolumbre International Airport – Macapá/AP (SBMQ). The planned investments are R$ 874.77 million, estimating the jobs generated during the concession contract at 23,608 (direct, indirect and income-effect). The airports in this Block have economic vocations aimed at ecological tourism, business tourism, air taxi, cargo transport for export and as a support base for neighboring municipalities, contributing to regional and national integration.
• General Aviation Block RJ-SP: Campo de Marte Airport – São Paulo/SP (SBMT) and Jacarepaguá Airport – Roberto Marinho – Rio de Janeiro/RJ (SBJR). The planned investments are R$ 560.19 million. In the city of Rio de Janeiro, Jacarepaguá Airport is intended for general aviation. Campo de Marte Airport, located in the city of São Paulo, the largest business hub in Latin America, has a vocation for business travel.
• Block SP-MS-PA-MG: bringing together the airports of Congonhas Airport – São Paulo/SP (SBSP); Campo Grande Airport – Campo Grande/MS (SBCG); Corumbá Airport – Corumbá/MS (SBCR); Ponta Porã International Airport – Ponta Porã/MS (SBPP); Maestro Wilson Fonseca Airport – Santarém/PA (SBSN); João Corrêa da Rocha Airport – Marabá/PA (SBMA); Carajás Airport – Parauapebas/PA (SBCJ); Altamira Airport – Altamira/PA (SBHT); Airport Ten. Cell Aviator César Bombonato – Uberlândia/MG (SBUL), Mário Ribeiro Airport – Montes Claros/MG (SBMK) and Mario de Almeida Franco Airport – Uberaba/MG (SBUR).