ECUADOR. Development of Eloy Alfaro International Airport in Ecuador’s Manta city will require four to six new commercial concessions, according to a well-sourced report in Business News Americas.
Jorge Ãlava, Executive Director of Corporación Aeroportuaria (the airport company in charge of the concessions), told the publication that studies are being carried out from 30 January to 9 February to analyse the airport’s potential.
Ãlava said the airport is likely to offer a duty free zone, an airport hotel, maintenance and fuel provision.
Expansion projects for the airport are still to be defined, but are likely to be divided into three stages, the report said. The first includes the building of a cargo terminal, to take place during the first two years. The second will feature an expansion of the passenger terminal, to be finished in four to five years. Finally a seven-platform cargo unit should be ready by 2011, he said.
The project will be financed through private investment and will require US$35-50 million depending on the final concession plan.
Ecuador’s civil airport authority ran Eloy Alfaro international airport until 30 November, when the administration and responsibility for the airport was assigned to Corporación Aeroportuaria.
The country’s leading duty free retailer is Duty Free Ecuador which opened an impressive new store in Guayaquil airport in late 2004.
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