SWITZERLAND. Unique (Flughafen Zürich AG), the operator of Zürich Airport, has acquired a stake in Hato International Airport in Curaçao through its joint venture interest in A-Port.
A-Port, a joint venture company in which Unique holds a 15% minority interest, has acquired Alterra Curaçao Holding Ltd, thereby gaining a 51% stake in Hato International Airport.
As part of the acquisition, responsibility for the management and operation of Hato International Airport will be handed over to Unique under a management agreement valid until 2033.
Outside of Switzerland, Unique is currently engaged in the operation of ten other airports in India and Latin America. This is in line with its strategy of selectively concluding airport operating agreements in growth markets, in particular in South and Central America, Eastern Europe and South East Asia. In each case Unique works together with strong local partners.
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Albert Brunner, former CEO of Bangalore International Airport Limited, has been named CEO of Hato International Airport |
Hato International Airport is located on the north coast of Curaçao approximately 10km from Willemstad, the capital of Netherlands Antilles. Passenger volume in 2008 was 1.5 million, which represents an increase of +14.4% over the previous year. The licence for operating the airport runs until 2033.
This acquisition represents an important first step in the expansion of A-Port’s Latin American portfolio, the company said.
A-Port SA is a Brazilian-Swiss-Chilean joint venture which develops, builds and operates airport projects and airport-related infrastructure in Latin America. The majority shareholder is the Brazilian firm Camargo Corrêa Group, with an 80% stake, while Unique (Flughafen Zürich AG) holds a 15% stake and the Chilean company IDC SA holds a 5% stake.
Albert Brunner has been named CEO of Hato International Airport. Until the end of January 2009, he was CEO of BIAL, the owner-operator of Bengaluru International Airport in India, in which Unique holds a 17% stake.
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