VENEZUELA. Unique Zurich Airport (Flughafen Zürich) and Chilean company Gestión E Ingenieria IDC (IDC) have been offered to manage and operate the international airport of Isla de Margarita as partners through a 20 year management contract. The negotiations which started in 2001 were now concluded said Flughafen Zürich in a statement.
The definite takeover is expected to be at the end of 2004, following the completion of the due diligence process, up to which there will be no liability for capital investment.
Management services and possible later investments of no more than CHF1 million would not be conducted by Zürich, but by its Chilean subsidiary Unique Airports Latin America (UALA). The government of the province of Nueva Esparta (Venezuela) is the contracting partner. At the same time the Venezuelan government will transfer the management of an airport to a foreign company for the first time.
The management contract is part of a strategic alliance with the government of Nueva Esparta, to further develop the island’s tourism. Isla de Margarita, on the southern tip of the Caribbean islands, is a duty free territory.
With 1.026 million passengers and 42,700 aircraft movements in 2003, the airport of Isla de Margarita is the second-largest airport in Venezuela. International flights are operated by American Airlines, Delta, Continental, British Airways and Lufthansa. Domestic flights are operated to Caracas – a base of duty free retailer Aldeasa – by Aeropostal, Laser and ASERCA.
In September 2003 the Venezuelan government founded a new national carrier CONVIASA, which is due to take up operations in autumn 2004 by using the airport of Isla de Margarita as its home base.
