Page 48 - IAADFS Summit of the Americas 2024 Special Edition

INSIDER

Avolta begins operations in new border duty free store in Fray Bentos

Avolta has extended its Latin A totally new store will be built later government in the renovation project.
American footprint by claiming the tender this year when the whole border crossing Avolta operates airport duty free stores
to operate the Fray Bentos Duty Free Shop is modernized as part of the Uruguayan in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Ecuador, and
in Uruguay. The duty free shop is located government’s plans to improve conditions Colombia in addition to a border store in
adjacent to the Libertador General San for drivers at land border crossings. More Uruguaiana in Brazil.
Martin International Bridge that links the than $14 million will be invested by the JG
Uruguayan town with the Argentine town
of Gualeguaychú. Fray Bentos is situated
280km from Buenos Aires and 310km from
Montevideo.
Working with local business partner
Nuevo Paso de Frontera, Avolta won the
tender that had been called in 2023. Avolta
started operating the store at the beginning
of March in the premises vacated by former
incumbent Darok, when it ceased trading.

Changi to stick with Galeão concession?

Brazil’s current policy on airport in 2022 but still a long way from the 16.9 of Auditors to approve a 50% reduction in
privatization remains unclear fifteen million the airport saw in 2015. Traffic the concession fee.
months after the new administration figures in 2024 have also been positive But there is preoccupation in
presided by Luis Inacio da Silva took over with total traffic reaching 2.46 million for government circles that this reduction
control of the government. The last part the first two months of the year compared would bring about similar requests from
of the Bolsonaro government’s airport with 1.32 in 2023. Changi is hoping for at other airport concession holders.
privatization program with the proposed least 14 million passengers this year. Industry analysts told TMI that the
privatization of Santos Dumont, the Rio de Back in 2021, Changi intimated to Sao Paulo Guarulhos concession holders
Janeiro domestic airport, was immediately the Brazilian government that they wanted were looking for a contract extension
canceled. to return the concession as the figures did to compensate for the traffic downturn
The Changi controlled concession not allow them to make a profit and their during the pandemic years. Aeroportos
at Rios’s Galeão International Airport projections indicated that a decent financial do Brasil, the manager of the Viracopos
has also been under doubt for some time. performance was a long way off. concession, is also looking to change
Rio’s traffic figures were disappointing However, the recovery in traffic has certain clauses of the agreement where
prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the brought the two sides to the negotiation they had promised a series of infrastructure
airport has struggled to produce solid traffic table and Changi may decide to stay improvements. Inframerica, a subsidiary of
figures. But recent traffic restrictions put with the concession but it is asking the Corporacion America, is also looking for a
in place in Santos Dumont have helped the government for a significant reduction in comprehensive concession review before
airport managers see a slight recovery. the concession fee. At the beginning of conducting further airport improvements at
Total traffic reached 7.95 million March, the Ports and Airports Ministry has Brasilia.
passengers in 2023, up from 5.89 million requested the Government’s Federal Court JG

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