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DIGEST FROM ISSUE NR. 1255, PUBLISHED ON 10 NOVEMBER 2025
Airport Development (DEV)
Europe
DENMARK
Copenhagen Airport is preparing a major renovation of Runway 04L/22R, one of its two main parallel runways and among the busiest in Scandinavia. Handling a large share of the airport’s nearly 30 million passengers annually, the 3,300-metre runway is crucial for both domestic and long-haul international operations.
The project, valued in the high hundreds of millions of Danish kroner (tens of millions of Euros), will include full resurfacing, lighting upgrades and safety enhancements to maintain compliance with European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) standards. Copenhagen Airports has opened a tender for technical consultancy services worth DKK 6 million (USD 858,000), running from February 2026 to January 2028.
ITALY
Venice Marco Polo Airport will invest EUR 2 billion under its 2023–2037 masterplan to accommodate up to 20 million passengers annually by 2037, nearly double current levels. Save Group, which manages the airport, said the investment will focus on terminal expansion, intermodality and sustainability rather than building a third runway. The passenger terminal will grow by 100,000 m2 to reach a total of 250,000 m2, supported by a EUR 50 million contribution to a new railway link connecting the airport to the national rail network, with construction due to start in July 2026.
Sustainability projects include a large agrivoltaic solar park, hydrogen development for aircraft operations by 2034, and facilities for wastewater reuse and waste recycling. The airport aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 and eliminate all fossil fuel use.
Save’s Chief Executive Monica Scarpa said the investments will combine infrastructure growth with renewable energy and hydrogen self-production. President Enrico Marchi added that the plan will create over 10,000 direct and 35,000 indirect jobs, generating an estimated EUR 10 billion (USD 10.6 billion) economic impact across the Veneto region.
POLAND
Polskie Porty Lotnicze (PPL), operator of Warsaw’s Chopin Airport, has approved a PLN 940 million (USD 230 million) modernisation plan to increase terminal capacity by around 5 million passengers annually by 2029. The project aims to maintain passenger growth ahead of the Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK) opening in 2032, preventing the loss of an estimated 5 million passengers and PLN 350 million (USD 86 million) in annual airport fee revenue.
The upgrade will expand non-Schengen areas, modernise the baggage-handling system, and add a new apron for wide-body aircraft. Chopin Airport, currently designed for 16 million passengers but handling over 21 million in 2024, is nearing full capacity.
PPL President Łukasz Chaberski said the pragmatic expansion will strengthen Poland’s hub operations and ensure critical passenger volumes transfer to CPK after 2032. Construction is scheduled from 2026 to 2028, financed through PPL’s own profits without state funding.
BULGARIA
SOF Connect, the concessionaire of Vasil Levski Sofia Airport, has launched the pre-qualification phase for a tender to design and build the airport’s new Terminal 3, a pre-terminal zone, and an integrated transport hub, as well as to modernise Terminal 2.
The BGN 450 million (EUR 230 million / USD 264.4 million) project will add a 60,000 m² Terminal 3 connected to Terminal 2, increasing the airport’s annual capacity from 7 million to 20 million passengers.
Only candidates with proven technical, financial, and organisational capability and experience in major airport developments will be shortlisted. Over 40 Bulgarian and international companies expressed interest before the 15 October deadline. Pre-qualified bidders must submit full technical and price proposals after the document deadline of 19 December 2025.
Russia & C.I.S.
MOLDOVA
Chișinău Eugen Doga International Airport has launched a public tender for the reconstruction and expansion of its passenger terminal. The project includes partial reconfiguration and enlargement of existing spaces to improve passenger comfort and flow.
According to the airport, the works will be fully financed from its own revenues and carried out in stages to ensure uninterrupted operations. Construction is expected to take up to 19 months from contract signing.
Earlier plans indicated that the terminal area will be expanded by 5,000 m² at an estimated cost of MDL 700 million (USD 39 million). Full tender documentation and participation requirements are available on the national procurement platform achizitii.md.
North America
CANADA
Niagara District Airport (Ontario) has unveiled its 2025–2045 Master Plan, the airport’s first major update since 1992, outlining a 20-year programme to modernise facilities and introduce commercial air services. The plan, developed by aviation consultancy Avia NG, will guide infrastructure, operational, and economic development through 2045.
The project includes construction of a larger terminal, a new fire station, an operations building, an upgraded fuel farm, and, with one existing runway, potentially converted into a taxiway. A second phase proposes a new 4,000–6,000 m² terminal and parking area, while the current terminal would be repurposed for general aviation. Customs and security facilities, along with a possible runway extension, will be required to support scheduled flights.
Future upgrades also include extending the main runway and terminal building, expanding parking capacity, and integrating the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority and Canada Border Services Agency infrastructure. Once complete, the airport will be able to handle up to 600,000 passengers annually. With approval from the Niagara District Airport Commission, the airport will now focus on securing funding, engaging airline partners, and implementing phased development to match regional demand.
UNITED STATES
Nashville International Airport (Tennessee) has confirmed plans to double in size with the construction of a second terminal on a 309-acre site south of the existing facility. The new complex, spanning over 300 acres, will feature five concourses, new parking garages and phased capacity expansion starting with around 20 gates.
The project is designed to accommodate projected growth to 35 million passengers annually by 2034, beyond the limits of the current terminal. It will be built on land currently occupied by the National Guard and several private aviation tenants, who will be relocated, and will likely involve decommissioning a runway to connect both terminals.
The expansion forms part of the airport’s USD 3 billion “New Horizon” programme, launched in 2022 to modernise and expand facilities. Other elements include the Concourse A rebuild, due in July 2028, and the recently completed Concourse D expansion. Design, financing and scheduling studies for the new terminal are ongoing, with a preliminary plan expected by the end of 2025.
Des Moines International Airport (Iowa) is progressing ahead of schedule on its new terminal under the Lift DSM expansion programme, which is now expected to open by the end of 2029. The Airport Authority Board has approved the project’s final phase, valued at USD 59 million, which will add four new gates in a two-storey extension to Fleur Drive. Construction began in 2023 and forms part of a broader three-phase terminal expansion and parking development valued at more than USD 600 million, below the earlier estimate of USD 770 million.
By 2027, seven new gates are planned to open, with five operational early in the year, while the remaining four will be completed between 2028 and 2029. Once finished, the airport will have 22 gates, doubling its capacity and meeting projected demand through 2050.
Des Moines International Airport, which currently serves over 3 million passengers a year and offers 35 nonstop destinations, is also expanding its parking facilities. A new garage section with 1,100 covered spaces has increased total capacity by 63% to more than 2,900 stalls, improving access to both existing and future terminals.
Latin America & The Caribbean
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
The Virgin Islands government has approved plans to extend the runway at Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (Beef Island) from 1,417 m to 2,134 m, marking the territory’s largest-ever infrastructure project. The expansion, endorsed by the Cabinet on 1 October 2025, aims to accommodate larger long-range aircraft and enable direct flights to major cities in North America, Latin America, and Europe.
Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer said procurement will begin shortly with a call for expressions of interest to identify qualified partners, followed by a full tender in early 2026. The project is advancing based on an Outline Business Case prepared by KPMG (BVI) Limited, though the government has not released the report or its supporting studies. The total cost is expected to reach several hundred million dollars, depending on the final design and financing.
Premier Natalio Wheatley has requested that the UK government exempt the expansion from the Virgin Islands’ borrowing limits under the Protocols for Effective Financial Management, describing it as a “developmental investment” rather than conventional public debt. The project, debated for over 15 years, forms part of a broader Airport Master Plan, now approved but unpublished. Supporters say the expansion will strengthen international connectivity, while critics cite environmental risks and limited transparency over the project’s economic justification.
PERU
The second phase of the new terminal at Lima Jorge Chávez International Airport is now under construction, with operator Lima Airport Partners (LAP) confirming that works are progressing on schedule. The expansion follows the opening of the first phase on 1 June 2025 and focuses on completing key infrastructure, including additional boarding bridges, passenger facilities, and operational areas that remain under development. LAP expects more airlines to begin operating from the terminal in 2026, once the next phase is complete.
The project forms part of the airport’s long-term modernisation plan to position Jorge Chávez as a regional hub, though some airlines and passengers have raised concerns about incomplete facilities affecting current operations, particularly during nighttime flights.
BRAZIL
Aena Brasil, the Brazilian subsidiary of Aena, has announced an investment of EUR 102 million to modernise Recife/Guararapes–Gilberto Freyre International Airport (Pernambuco state). The project, presented alongside Brazil’s Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho, aims to transform the airport’s surroundings into an urban and logistics hub. It includes a Real Estate Development Plan worth BRL 580 million (EUR 92 million) and an Intermodal Terminal costing BRL 60 million (EUR 10 million). Together, they are expected to generate about 15,000 direct and indirect jobs in the region.
The Real Estate Development Plan will redevelop 543,000 m2 of underused land with a potential construction area of 1.3 million m2 for logistics centres, retail, hotels and services, improving integration between the airport and the city. Construction will begin in the second quarter of 2026 and finish by late 2027.
Aena, a Spanish airport operator managing 17 airports in Brazil, has committed EUR 1.054 billion (USD 1.14 billion) to modernisation works across its Brazilian network, which handled 40 million passengers in 2024. Recife is the largest of Aena’s six airports in the Northeast group and ranks eighth in Brazil for passenger traffic and fifth for international and cargo volumes.
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Africa
MOROCCO
The Moroccan Airports Authority (ONDA) has confirmed the official launch of construction for the new Terminal Hub at Casablanca Mohamed V Airport, one of the largest airport infrastructure projects in the country’s history. Valued at MAD 10 billion (EUR 920 million / USD 990 million), the project will reinforce the airport’s role as Morocco’s main international hub and a cornerstone of the ONDA “Airports 2030” strategy.
The new terminal, designed by Ala Concept, RSHP Architects, and Egis Bâtiment International, will cover 600,000 m² and initially handle 20 million passengers per year, with future expansion to 30 million. Built in an “H” shape with a central processing core and two piers, it will optimise baggage handling, passenger circulation, and aircraft gate operations. The facility will also be directly connected to the forthcoming Tanger–Marrakech high-speed rail line, creating Morocco’s first major multimodal air–rail hub.
The construction contract, divided into nine packages, has an execution period of 40 months. Groundwork, currently 40% complete under local contractor STAM, will be followed by modular and prefabricated construction phases to accelerate delivery, minimise waste, and improve efficiency. Separate tenders will later cover airside infrastructure, including a new runway, control tower, and external works.
ONDA said the terminal represents a strategic investment to support Royal Air Maroc’s growth, create substantial employment, and strengthen Morocco’s position as a key aviation gateway between Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. The project embodies ONDA’s goal of achieving higher performance, safety, and sustainability across Morocco’s airport network.
DJIBOUTI
Djibouti has renewed efforts to secure international financing for the long-delayed Al Haj Hassan Gouled Aptidon International Airport, a flagship project under the country’s Vision 2035 development plan. On 28 October 2025, Simon Mibrathu, Secretary General at the Ministry of Budget, met in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) with Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Murshed, CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), to discuss Saudi participation. The SFD has expressed willingness to lead the project’s financial structuring and will organise a donor roundtable in Djibouti early 2026, bringing together Arab financial institutions to finalise the funding framework.
Planned about 50 km southwest of Djibouti City, the Biidley Airport project will cover 46 km², with a design capacity of 1.5 million passengers and 100,000 tonnes of cargo annually, accommodating all major commercial aircraft. Named after Djibouti’s founding president, Hassan Gouled Aptidon, the project was initially due to open in 2018 but was delayed by funding and technical challenges.
France remains a key technical partner. In June 2021, the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority signed an MoU with Aéroports de Paris (ADP) and Egis for master planning, design studies, financing structure, and construction oversight.
The airport forms part of a wider national infrastructure programme linking ports, transport corridors, and free trade zones, aimed at strengthening connectivity, attracting investment and tourism, and positioning Djibouti as a strategic logistics and aviation hub between Africa, the Gulf, and Asia.
SOUTH AFRICA
Pretoria’s Wonderboom National Airport will undergo a ZAR 7.2 billion (USD 382 million) upgrade under a master plan to be completed by December 2025. The redevelopment includes a new terminal, control tower, expanded runways and taxiways, a cargo complex, an aviation training centre, and a diplomatic terminal, with a potential Gautrain station connection also under study.
The airport will be restructured as a municipal entity operating independently under public ownership, with private investment invited through PPP or Build-Operate-Transfer models.
MMC for Roads and Transport Tlangi Mogale said the project aims to reintroduce commercial flights to Cape Town and boost logistics, tourism, and employment, noting that the airport’s net losses have fallen from ZAR 46 million in 2020/21 to ZAR 28 million in 2024/25 alongside a 19% revenue increase.
Middle East
LEBANON
President Joseph Aoun announced that development and rehabilitation works at René Moawad Airport in Qleyaat will begin in the coming months to prepare for the resumption of civil operations. The project, confirmed during a meeting with business leaders from Tripoli, follows earlier statements by Public Works and Transport Minister Fayez Rassamny, who said the rehabilitation contract would be awarded by early 2026.
Originally built in 1938 and later converted into a military base, the airport’s reopening aims to establish Lebanon’s second civil airport, reducing reliance on Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport and boosting economic growth in the underdeveloped Akkar region.
IRAQ
Iraq’s government has awarded the public–private partnership for Baghdad International Airport to a consortium comprising Corporación América Airports (Luxembourg) and Amwaj International, following Cabinet approval on 28 October 2025. The 25-year concession, signed in the presence of Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Sudani and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), covers the rehabilitation, expansion and operation of the country’s main airport gateway under a total investment of about USD 764 million.
The project was developed under IFC supervision after a competitive tender involving 14 global consortia. The selected CAAP Consortium offered 43.05% of annual airport revenue to the national treasury, surpassing the 38.05% proposal from the ASYAD Consortium. Under the agreement, the investors will fund all works without cost to the government, share revenue throughout the concession period, and assume responsibility for airport management, staff salaries, and training programmes.
Development will include a new passenger terminal with 15 boarding bridges and an initial capacity for 9 million passengers per year, expandable to 15 million in a second phase. The scope also covers runway, taxiway and apron rehabilitation, a new cargo area, a VIP terminal, a headquarters for the Civil Aviation Authority, and a multi-storey car park.
Corporación América Airports, headquartered in Argentina, will lead operational management, with Amwaj International providing local support. The Cabinet described the agreement as Iraq’s most transparent and financially beneficial airport partnership since 2006, with the consortium expected to create approximately 1,000 new direct jobs for every additional million passengers handled.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Abu Dhabi Airports, the state-owned operator of Zayed International Airport, is developing a detailed master plan, prepared by Aertec, for a large-scale airport expansion scheduled to begin in 2027 and complete by 2032. The plan builds on the opening of Terminal A in 2023, which currently accommodates 45 million passengers per year and will be expanded to handle 65 million. The expansion supports Etihad Airways’ strategy to double passenger traffic to 38 million by 2030 and aligns with the emirate’s broader aviation and tourism growth objectives. Abu Dhabi Airports projects a total passenger throughput of 32–33 million in 2025, up from 29.4 million in 2024.
Planned developments include a new 90,000 sqm state of the art cargo terminal, currently under construction in the east midfield, a new satellite boarding concourse which can be gradually expanded, extended airside infrastructure, and a direct connection to the Etihad Rail’s High Speed Rail network and regional Abu Dhabi Transport’s Light Rail (tram) line 4 to Yas Island, improving regional accessibility. The Abu Dhabi Capital Development Code also safeguards for a potential future third parallel runway.
The expansion integrates advanced digital systems, notably full facial recognition at nine passenger touchpoints and biometric identification for transit passengers, designed to reduce queue times and strengthen security. Abu Dhabi Airports is also developing an artificial intelligence–driven digital twin to consolidate operational data, optimise capacity, and predict disruptions in real time.
Managing Director and CEO Elena Sorlini said the project combines physical capacity growth with digital transformation to position Zayed International Airport as a leading global hub by the early 2030s.
Asia Pacific
PAKISTAN
The Punjab government is advancing preliminary plans for a second airport near Lahore, with the Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) identifying a potential site close to Ravi City along the M-3 motorway, about 30 km from Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport. The proposal remains in its early planning phase, with cost estimates and financing models under discussion, while no construction schedule or budget details have yet been finalised.
Lahore, the capital of Punjab province and Pakistan’s second-largest city, faces growing air traffic pressure as its population exceeds 13 million and urban development accelerates. Allama Iqbal International Airport, located in the city’s northeast, is undergoing a major expansion to double its annual capacity to more than 12 million passengers. The works include a 325,000 m² terminal extension, expanded aprons, and new parking facilities, now scheduled for completion in September 2026 after earlier delays caused by intermittent pauses in federal funding and construction. Against this backdrop, provincial authorities are exploring a second airport to relieve long-term congestion and attract investment near the planned Ravi City urban area.
At the national level, Pakistan’s aviation authorities have also advanced plans for new airports in Dera Ismail Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and Mirpur (Azad Jammu and Kashmir), alongside the upgrading of Dera Ghazi Khan Airport (Punjab), as part of a broader programme to expand regional air connectivity and stimulate local economies. During a Stakeholders Engagement and Briefing Session in Karachi hosted by the Pakistan Aviation Authority (PAA), officials presented feasibility studies and updated passenger demand analyses to representatives from PIA, AirSial, Airblue, SereneAir, Fly Dubai, and other project consultants.
The meeting, chaired by PAA Director of Planning and Development Engineer Ghulam Abbas Sheikh, reviewed development options to support balanced aviation growth across Pakistan. Following federal approval, the new Mirpur International Airport has entered the feasibility phase, with site identification and technical assessments to be completed by December 2025. Construction is expected to begin within the current fiscal year once design and funding are approved. The project aims to provide direct international flight options for residents and overseas Pakistanis, reducing reliance on Islamabad International Airport and promoting investment and employment in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Airlines noted that smaller regional airports might temporarily divert passengers from major hubs, but PAA officials stated that improved regional access would enhance national connectivity, tourism, and sustainable economic development. The authority reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing feasible, demand-driven airport projects with industry and technical partners to support Pakistan’s long-term aviation infrastructure strategy.
INDIA
The Government of Tamil Nadu (India) is expediting the proposed Hosur Greenfield Airport project, with nearly 2,000 acres (809 hectares) of land identified in Krishnagiri district. The state plans to submit a formal proposal to the Ministry of Civil Aviation within two weeks to obtain site clearance.
Once approved, the project will proceed to the detailed design and environmental assessment stages. The new airport is planned under a public–private partnership model to support both passenger and cargo operations, aiming to relieve pressure on Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru and serve the industrial corridor between Hosur and Bengaluru.
Jalgaon Airport (Maharashtra state) will undergo terminal expansion to meet rising passenger demand, according to Member of Parliament Smita Wagh. The airport currently offers flights to Pune, Mumbai, Goa, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad and now ranks as the fifth busiest in Maharashtra, with passengers also travelling from neighbouring Dhule, Buldhana, and Akola districts. The Airports Authority has approved the expansion plan, and construction of the upgraded terminal is expected to be completed within a year.
The expanded terminal will include a security hold area for 150 passengers, a childcare room, commercial shops, food and beverage outlets, restrooms, and a canteen. The apron will be enlarged to park two ATR 72 aircraft and one Legacy 650, alongside provision for 100 car parking spaces. The arrivals area will gain a medical room and conveyor belts for baggage collection.
A separate proposal seeks to extend the runway from 1,750 metres to 2,500 metres to allow operations by larger aircraft. Wagh added that the upgrade could also enable cargo operations, supporting agricultural exports such as bananas from Jalgaon district.
JAPAN
Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has begun full-scale planning for a large artificial platform to connect Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 at Tokyo Haneda Airport. The platform will be built above the Bayshore Route of the Shuto Expressway on the southern side of the terminals, extending the apron area and adding new aircraft parking stands. It will also include a concourse linking the two terminals for passenger transfers.
The project is being coordinated with East Japan Railway Company (JR East), which plans to open the new Haneda Airport Access Line in the 2031 fiscal year, enabling improved connectivity between central Tokyo and the airport.
MLIT began studying the platform development in the 2022 fiscal year. The design aims to reduce taxiing distances, improve aircraft ground movement efficiency, and address operational constraints caused by aircraft crossing Runway A (RWY 16R/34L). The ministry plans to complete the basic design by the end of 2026 and prepare for construction, with target completion in the early 2030s.
Haneda Airport currently has three terminals: Terminal 1, opened on 27 September 1993, serving Japan Airlines, Skymark Airlines and StarFlyer; Terminal 2, opened on 1 December 2004, serving All Nippon Airways, Air Do and Solaseed Air; and Terminal 3, opened on 21 October 2010, handling international flights.
Terminal 2 includes a northern satellite facility that opened on 10 December 2018. A connecting passage between the main and satellite buildings entered service on 19 March 2025, and an extension of the satellite is planned for spring 2027. Terminal 1 is also adding a northern satellite facility scheduled to open in summer 2026. In parallel, MLIT is upgrading apron pavement and reinforcing ground conditions to mitigate liquefaction risks and enhance resilience.
Consultant & Contractors (CON)
Lithuanian Airports (LTOU) has signed a design contract with Zaha Hadid Architects, the London-based international architectural firm, for the new Arrivals Terminal at Vilnius Airport (Vilnius, Lithuania). Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, with the terminal opening to passengers by the end of 2028. The EUR 5.74 million (USD 6.2 million) design phase will deliver plans for a 12,500 m² terminal including a 3,800 m² baggage claim hall, 1,200 m² arrivals area, 2,500 m² of retail and service spaces, and 2,100 m² of office facilities for airport staff. A 2,500 m² public square and redesigned access roads will improve passenger flow and connectivity with rail, bus, and cycling networks. The total project cost, including construction and equipment, is expected to reach up to EUR 60 million (USD 65 million).
Transport Minister Juras Taminskas said the terminal would serve as Lithuania’s “calling card,” reflecting the nation’s modern identity and improving multimodal connections. Arnas Dūmanas, Infrastructure Director at Lithuanian Airports, noted that the project aligns with the airport’s long-term master plan to enhance functionality, aesthetics, and sustainability. Ludovico Lombardi, Head of Zaha Hadid Architects, described the design as an architectural dialogue that integrates seamlessly with existing airport structures.
The winning concept, chosen from 11 international submissions, draws inspiration from traditional Lithuanian geometric patterns and features sustainable design elements such as rainwater harvesting and natural materials. Once completed, the terminal will replace the existing arrivals facility, creating a unified, future-ready airport complex that reflects Lithuania’s evolving mobility strategy and growing air travel demand. #1255.CON1
The Catalan regional government has appointed Arcadis to carry out the environmental assessment for the planned expansion of Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport (Catalonia, Spain), located near the protected La Ricarda wetlands.
The Dutch consultancy will prepare a detailed environmental evaluation roadmap outlining the project’s timeline, scope and mitigation measures, and propose improvements to compensatory environmental actions. Arcadis will provide an international team with experience from major infrastructure projects such as Brussels Airport and the Ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp, supported by local biodiversity specialists.
The study will guide Aena’s EUR 700 million (USD 754 million) plan to expand Terminal 1 by 70,000 m², ensuring the project meets international environmental standards.
Prague Airport (Václav Havel Airport, Czech Republic) has signed a CZK 778 million (USD 31.6 million) contract with a consortium comprising INVIN, Contract Management and Hill International to manage construction of its new Terminal 2 expansion. The project management team will oversee cost control, risk management, compliance, and commissioning processes, including operational readiness and transfer (ORAT). The terminal expansion, scheduled between 2029 and 2033, forms part of a CZK 37 billion (USD 1.5 billion) modernisation plan that also includes a new central security checkpoint for Terminal 1 and a multi-storey car park.
The new terminal will add eight contact stands for wide-body aircraft, or up to 16 for narrow-body types, expanding long-term passenger capacity beyond the current sustainable limit of 17 million annually. Prague Airport expects to surpass its 2019 record of 17.8 million passengers this year, underscoring the need for additional capacity.
Central Communication Port (CPK), the entity developing Warsaw’s (Poland) new greenfield airport, has awarded Projmors Ase Group a PLN 3 million (USD 740,000) contract to design two airport catering facilities that will support the new CPK Airport.
The buildings, located adjacent to the airside area, will handle warehousing and transhipment of catering cargo and in-flight sales goods from external suppliers without on-site production. Their design aims to minimise storage time and maximise throughput while ensuring integration with the terminal and other operational systems.
This project forms part of CPK’s broader airport support infrastructure programme, which also includes the design of the fire and rescue service, air traffic control tower, air operations control centre, and several maintenance and service buildings currently under development.
Toronto Pearson Airport (Ontario, Canada) has advanced its long-term development strategy, Pearson LIFT (Long-term Investment in Facilities and Terminals), by launching the selection process for the Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 Revitalisation Programme and appointing the Pearson Accelerator Construction Team (PACT) to lead its delivery. PACT is a Canadian-led partnership comprising Kenaidan Contracting, Alberici Constructors, Amico Major Projects and Obayashi Canada, bringing collective experience from more than 170 airport projects. The group will be supported by a design joint venture between Egis, a French engineering and infrastructure consultancy, and Mott MacDonald, a UK-based global engineering firm, with additional input from WW+P Architects, WSP Canada and Woods Bagot.
The Accelerator Programme will use a Progressive-Design-Build model to enable early collaboration, flexible decision-making and cost control across planning, design and construction stages. Pearson LIFT is expected to generate thousands of jobs, stimulate local supply chains and support innovation across Canada’s aviation sector.
Granite Construction has secured a contract worth about USD 70 million for the next phase of Tucson International Airport’s (Arizona, United States) Aviation Safety Enhancement programme, valued at USD 400 million (EUR 374.6 million). Known as GMP 4, the project covers the construction of a third full-length commercial runway and forms the fourth package under the Tucson Airport Authority’s Construction Manager at Risk framework. Funding comes from the Federal Airport Improvement Program, the Arizona Department of Transportation, and the airport authority.
Granite will supply 77,000 tonnes of cement-treated foundation and 135,000 tonnes of aggregates from its nearby Swan plant, with associated works also planned for taxiways.
Oron Holdings and Investments, through its subsidiary Oron Infrastructure and Construction, has been awarded a NIS 310 million (USD 83 million) contract by the Israel Airports Authority to expand and modernise Terminal 3 at Ben Gurion Airport (Tel Aviv, Israel). The 30-month project will add 7,000 m² of new passenger and retail space across four floors, expand the main dining area and create additional operational zones. A new 2,000 m² building, named the Tel Aviv Gate, will serve as a dedicated entry terminal for passengers arriving by bus, improving baggage handling and security screening.
Construction will be carried out while the terminal remains operational, in coordination with the Israel Airports Authority to maintain uninterrupted service. Oron Holdings co-owner Gili Azaria said the expansion will strengthen the airport’s capacity and enhance the passenger experience as part of wider national infrastructure development efforts.
Three international firms have joined the consortium developing North Bali International Airport in Buleleng (Bali, Indonesia), a national strategic project aimed at balancing regional connectivity and development across the island. The agreement, signed on 28 October 2025 at PT BIBU Panji Sakti’s headquarters in Kubutambahan, involves PT Powerchina Inteligensi dan Integritas Energi Teknologi Indonesia (an affiliate of PowerChina), ClarkeHopkinsClarke Architects (CHC) from Australia, and PT Garuda Daya Pratama Sejahtera (GDPS) under the Garuda Indonesia Group.
PT BIBU Panji Sakti CEO Erwanto Sad Adiatmoko said the partnership would ensure global construction standards while maintaining harmony with Balinese cultural values. PowerChina will lead the green energy and smart microgrid systems, drawing on its experience in floating solar and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects to support Indonesia’s energy transition.
CHC has been appointed lead consultant for the planned Aerotropolis surrounding the airport and will integrate biodiversity and local cultural elements into the master plan. The Australian firm is working with Homa Group, Sharp Day, Nature Positive Urbanism, and Meinhardt to deliver an environmentally responsive design rooted in Bali’s landscape and traditions.
GDPS will oversee airport human resources, aviation services, and operational technology, ensuring service quality at North Bali International Airport aligns with leading international standards.
Management, Ownership, and Finance (MGT)
Europe
SWEDEN
Swedavia AB (Stockholm, Sweden), the state-owned operator of ten Swedish airports, reported strong financial and operational results for the third quarter of 2025 and announced plans to strengthen its capital structure through a potential hybrid bond issue. Between July and September, nearly ten million passengers travelled through Swedavia’s airports, a 3% year-on-year increase, with international traffic up over 3% and domestic up nearly 4%. Net revenue rose to SEK 1.8 billion (USD 160.6 million), up SEK 102 million from 2024, while operating profit reached SEK 249 million (USD 22.2 million). Cash flow from operations improved by SEK 143 million to SEK 568 million (USD 50.7 million).
Stockholm Arlanda Airport was ranked Europe’s most punctual major airport for the first nine months of 2025 by Eurocontrol and won “Commercial Space of the Year” at the NCSC Nordic Awards. Swedavia credited higher passenger volumes and stronger commercial performance, with retail revenue per passenger continuing to grow. The “Arlanda of the Future” programme is advancing on schedule, and airline expansion remains strong, with Norwegian, Ryanair, and others increasing capacity. The group continues to call for a long-term national transport policy to support competitiveness and attract new long-haul routes following SAS’s decision to base intercontinental operations in Copenhagen.
In parallel, Swedavia is assessing market conditions for issuing new SEK-denominated hybrid capital securities to reinforce financial flexibility. The proposed perpetual instruments, callable after five or seven years, will be offered alongside a tender for two existing subordinated perpetual tranches totalling SEK 2.5 billion (USD 228 million), callable in November 2026. The tender closes on 11 November 2025, with settlement expected around 19 November. Nordea Bank Abp and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB are acting as Joint Bookrunners. Swedavia, which recorded SEK 6.4 billion (USD 586 million) in 2024 revenue, has maintained fossil-free airport operations since 2020.
DENMARK
The Danish Ministry of Finance has launched a mandatory tender offer for the remaining shares of Copenhagen Airport as the state moves to full ownership. The government completed the acquisition of 98.55% of the airport’s total share capital and voting rights on 30 September 2025, following its purchase of the majority stake from pension fund ATP for about DKK 32 billion (USD 5 billion). The tender offer to remaining shareholders runs until 10 December 2025.
Copenhagen Airports Chair Lars Nørby Johansen said the new ownership structure secures long-term stability for one of Denmark’s largest workplaces and ensures the airport’s continued contribution to national connectivity and the wider economy.
UNITED KINGDOM
Doncaster Sheffield Airport (United Kingdom) is nearing reopening as two competing proposals emerge — one led by the City of Doncaster Council and another from an international investor consortium. The council’s cabinet, headed by Mayor Ros Jones, has approved GBP 175 million (USD 224 million) in public grant funding from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and endorsed a 24-year business plan for Fly Doncaster Ltd, a council-owned company created to operate the Airport. The total reopening cost is estimated at GBP 193 million (USD 247 million), including an additional GBP 57 million (USD 73 million) in council borrowing to be voted on 27 November 2025. The council’s plan projects GBP 81 million (USD 104 million) in operating losses over the first nine years, followed by GBP 230 million (USD 294 million) in pre-tax profits by 2049. The broader regeneration scheme, incorporating the Gateway East development, could generate GBP 300 million (USD 383 million) in business rates over 25 years.
In parallel, a consortium led by Marbella-based Labyrinth International Investments, in partnership with Monaco-based Castlepines Global Equity and UAE-based strategic partners, has proposed a GBP 100 million (USD 128 million) acquisition of the Airport and 126 acres of adjoining land as a privately financed alternative. Backed by pension funds from the US, Canada, and Europe, the consortium has pledged full legal transparency and offered to return 10% equity in the Airport to the council.
South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard’s office confirmed discussions with the investor group while continuing to support the council’s public reopening plan. The council’s upcoming vote will determine whether Doncaster Sheffield Airport reopens under public ownership or through a privately financed model.
GERMANY
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (Brandenburg, Germany) marked its fifth year of operation with mixed outcomes, reflecting both strong regional growth and persistent financial and operational challenges. The EUR 7 billion (USD 7.5 billion) airport, which opened in 2020 after an eight-year delay and cost three times its original budget, has become a key driver of Brandenburg’s economy. Brandenburg’s Minister for Economic Affairs, Daniel Keller, described it as a central pillar of the state’s development, supported by the growth of logistics, retail, and manufacturing businesses around the site. Companies such as the Confiserie Felicitas chocolate manufacturer and toy retailer Die Kleine Gesellschaft, once threatened by construction delays, now count the airport among their main clients.
The airport has spurred rapid expansion in the surrounding region, with more than 45,000 jobs now linked directly or indirectly to its operation. Around 20,000 people work on-site for airlines, security, and service providers. Between 2013 and 2023, employment in the Brandenburg section of the airport region rose by 28% to over 170,000 people, accounting for nearly half of the state’s total employment growth during that period. The nearby municipality of Schönefeld has seen its population rise from 13,000 in 2012 to about 20,000 in 2025 and is projected to reach up to 30,000 by 2040.
The airport’s presence also influenced Tesla’s decision to locate its electric vehicle plant in Grünheide, about 30 km away. Since the opening, regional investment agencies have supported more than 200 corporate projects, including new facilities by Theion, Jenoptik, and ASML Berlin.
However, economic benefits have been less visible on the Berlin side of the metropolitan area, where officials report limited impact on local industry and property development. Despite renewed investment in the Behrens-Ufer industrial area and other projects near Treptow-Köpenick, the overall momentum remains uneven.
In 2024, Berlin Brandenburg Airport handled 25 million passengers, with 2025 traffic forecast at nearly 27 million. This remains well below the pre-pandemic total of 36 million passengers handled by Berlin’s former Tegel and Schönefeld airports in 2019. The airport continues to report financial losses and relies on public funding, recovering more slowly than other major German hubs. Passenger recovery rates are projected at 68% of pre-crisis levels by early 2026, compared with 88% at Frankfurt, 84% at Munich, and 80% at Hamburg.
Infrastructure pressure has intensified, with congestion growing on surrounding highways and rail lines. The Cottbus Chamber of Commerce has called for immediate expansion of the southern section of the A10 motorway and improved rail connections to maintain regional mobility.
The airport region is also affected by the national economic downturn. A recent business survey showed declining confidence, particularly in the Dahme-Spreewald district, and a severe shortage of skilled labour remains the most critical issue facing local employers. Despite these challenges, regional authorities emphasise that Berlin Brandenburg Airport continues to underpin economic activity in southeastern Berlin and across Brandenburg, with potential for further growth if structural and workforce constraints are addressed.
ITALY
Aena (Spain) and Ferrovial (Spain) are closely monitoring Italy’s upcoming privatisation of Catania–Fontanarossa Airport (Sicily, Italy), the country’s fifth-busiest airport, as the Italian government prepares to sell a majority stake in the public operator SAC. The transaction, expected to launch within weeks under the supervision of the Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC), will involve the sale of between 51 % and 66 % of SAC’s capital. The process is drawing strong interest from global investors, including Vinci (France), the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund ADQ, and Italian infrastructure group Mundys, co-owned by the Benetton family and Blackstone, which is considered a leading contender.
Ferrovial, which recently exited London Heathrow by selling its 25 % stake, is focusing on new airport opportunities, including Perth (Australia) and Warsaw (Poland), while advancing construction of Terminal 1 at New York JFK Airport. Aena, meanwhile, continues work on São Paulo–Congonhas Airport (Brazil) and has submitted plans for a GBP 1.8 billion (USD 2.3 billion) expansion of London Luton Airport. Its management will evaluate Catania’s privatisation once the tender documents are released.
Catania Airport, operated by SAC under concession until 2049, handled 12.3 million passengers in 2024 (+15 %) and generated EUR 122 million in revenue with an EBITDA of EUR 25.2 million. The facility, currently a single-runway airport, plans to expand capacity to 20 million passengers annually through the construction of a second runway, a project dependent on private investment.
The sale follows the recent acquisition of Venice Marco Polo Airport by Ardian (France) and Finint Infrastrutture (Italy), underscoring renewed investor appetite for Italian airport assets amid limited opportunities in the European secondary market.
GREECE
Athens International Airport reported a 4.8% decline in net profit for the nine months ending 30 September 2025, falling to EUR 185.8 million (USD 216.7 million) from EUR 195.1 million in the same period last year, as rising operating costs outpaced modest revenue growth. Operating expenses increased 14.1% year-on-year to EUR 180.1 million, driven by higher variable concession fees, staffing and outsourcing costs, minimum wage hikes, electricity prices, and maintenance provisions.
Total revenue and other income rose 3.5% to EUR 526.9 million, supported by a 6.7% rise in passenger traffic to 26.2 million and regulated airport charge adjustments. Airside revenue grew 2.5% to EUR 397.5 million, while non-aeronautical revenue increased 6.7% to EUR 129.5 million, aided by retail performance despite temporary parking disruptions.
Tourism remains a central pillar of Greece’s economy, contributing more than 25% of national output.
Names
Athens International Airport (Attica, Greece) announced that its Chief Strategy Officer, George Kallimasias, will become Managing Director (CEO) on 1 February 2026, succeeding Yiannis Paraschis, who will conclude a 19-year tenure on 31 January 2026. The appointment was unanimously approved by the Board of Directors on 31 October 2025, following a proposal from AviAlliance, the airport’s majority shareholder, and recommendations from the company’s governance bodies. Kallimasias, who joined Athens International Airport in 1999 and became Chief Strategy Officer in 2019, has led several strategic projects, including the 20-year extension of the airport’s concession, its listing on the Athens Exchange, and the advancement of long-term infrastructure investment and sustainability plans.
Under Paraschis’s leadership, the airport expanded into a major European hub serving 34 million passengers in 2025, while achieving strong operational and financial results. He guided the airport through the Greek economic crisis and the pandemic, strengthened its governance model, secured the concession renewal, and initiated the next phase of expansion works.
Paraschis, who will remain with the company as a strategic advisor and board member of World Airport Partners, was praised for building a culture of transparency, cooperation, and sustainability, and for enhancing Greece’s profile in global aviation through his service as President of ACI EUROPE and ACI World.
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (Florida, United States) has appointed Paul Hoback Jr. as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, bringing 25 years of aviation administration experience from Pittsburgh International Airport. Hoback previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer at the Allegheny County Airport Authority, where he oversaw capital development, operations, and maintenance. He led Pittsburgh’s USD 1.7 billion terminal modernisation programme, which generated an estimated USD 2.5 billion in regional economic impact.
A mechanical engineer with a master’s degree in business administration from Geneva College, Hoback began his airport career in 2000 and guided Pittsburgh International Airport through major industry disruptions following 9/11 and the restructuring of US Airways.
In Sarasota, he said his priority will be managing rapid growth while addressing infrastructure constraints, including baggage claim congestion, rental car shortages, and limited parking during peak travel periods. He aims to expand capacity and enhance the passenger experience, describing his goal as making SRQ “the friendliest airport in the country.”
Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, Director of St. Louis Lambert International Airport (Missouri, United States), will retire in autumn 2026 after more than 15 years leading the airport through major transformation and recovery initiatives. Mayor Cara Spencer announced the decision on 5 November 2025, praising Hamm-Niebruegge’s leadership in restoring the airport after the 2011 tornado, returning passenger traffic to pre-pandemic levels by mid-2023, and securing new international routes to Frankfurt and London operated by Lufthansa and British Airways.
Appointed in January 2010, Hamm-Niebruegge oversaw the launch of a long-term plan to redevelop the airport into a modern single-terminal facility and expanded the Lambert Art and Culture Programme to highlight local artists. She also strengthened partnerships with the business community to expand the airport’s economic impact.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has announced several key leadership appointments across major and regional airports as part of its ongoing management restructuring. Vikram Singh has assumed charge as Airport Director of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (Kolkata, West Bengal), succeeding P. R. Beuria following his retirement. A career AAI officer since 1995, Singh brings three decades of experience in airport operations and management, having served at Mumbai, New Delhi and Kolkata airports, as well as at AAI headquarters and the Indian Aviation Academy. He holds a B.Sc. from Delhi University and an MBA from BIT Mesra. His record includes contributions to airside management, slot allocation, training and policy development, and the operationalisation of new airport infrastructure at Kolkata, Patna and Kushinagar. Singh’s priorities include enhancing passenger experience, safety, operational efficiency and sustainability in line with AAI’s modernisation strategy.
At Mysuru Airport (Karnataka, India), P. V. Ushakumari has been appointed Director, becoming the first woman to lead the airport. Her appointment marks a milestone in Indian regional aviation and aligns with AAI’s efforts to promote gender diversity in senior leadership. Ushakumari will oversee operations at the expanding gateway, which connects Mysuru with Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad, and is currently undergoing infrastructure upgrades to accommodate rising passenger and tourism demand.
Meanwhile, AAI has appointed Sanjay Kumar as Airport Director of Gorakhpur Airport (Uttar Pradesh), effective 29 October 2025. Kumar previously served as Director of Kanpur Airport and brings operational experience suited to managing Gorakhpur’s growing commercial and passenger traffic.
Shinichiro Okada, a senior executive at Nippon Kyoso Platform (JPiX, Tokyo) and president of Nanki-Shirahama Airport (Wakayama Prefecture, Japan), has been appointed president of the newly established Toyama Airport Ltd. The company was created by JPiX and partners to operate Toyama Airport (Toyama Prefecture, Japan) under a mixed concession model ahead of its privatisation in April 2026. Toyama Prefecture signed an implementation agreement on 17 October 2025, granting operating rights from 1 October 2025 through to 2035 with an extension option.
Toyama Airport Ltd. will take over the terminal operator Toyama Airport Terminal Building Co. and manage facilities while ownership remains with the prefecture. Okada said he intends to use his experience in regional airport management to help stimulate local development and attract visitors to Toyama.
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