May
2015
Concession-based airport development and management: advantages and possibilities
On May 28, 2015, head of VEGAS LEX Aviation and Airport Development Group spoke at the 47-th Moscow International Conference, Innovative Solutions in the Operation of Airports, organized by the Airport Association of CIS Civil Aviation and supported by Russia’s Federation Council, the Transport Ministry, the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) and the Federal Service for Supervision of Transport (Rostransnadzor).
Expert report focused on the concession-based model of airport development and management and aroused special interest of representatives of regional airports. The shrinking opportunities of government financing bring into the spotlight the need to attract private investment to airport infrastructure development. Several ongoing projects that involve concession deeds on airport facilities within the Moscow aviation hub have shown that concession is practically the only viable instrument for attracting non-government funding to airports. It also conveniently lacks any of the limitations found in the lease-based model.
In his report expert thoroughly discussed the structuring and financing of concession projects at regional airports, prices and tariffs, the preparation and launch procedure, and the key advantages of concession-based airport development for the government and for private investors.
The conference participants also discussed other issues, including legislative and legal regulation of airport operation, the formation of investment resources for airport business, airport infrastructure development and improvement of service, IT innovations for airports, modern requirements for passenger services at airports, and building a barrier-free environment that complies with aviation safety requirements at civil aviation facilities.
The conference was attended by representatives of Russian and international airports, aircraft manufacturers, airlines, and other civil aviation-related businesses.
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