Page 18 - Special Issue Asutil Conference 2025

INSIDER

One on One with Aena CCO Juan José Sánchez Guinoza
Aena’s airports shine in Brazil, with more growth ahead

Juan José Sánchez Guinoza, Chief Commercial Officer at Aena Brasil, talks to Travel Markets Insider about
results and opportunities. While Congonhas is the chief protagonist of Aena’s Brazil portfolio, the operator
sees growth opportunities throughout the whole network. John Gallagher reports.

Brazil continues to be critically
important for the international growth
and development of Madrid-based airport
operator Aena. Last year, the Aena group
handled more than 438 million passengers
worldwide, an increase of 8.5% compared
to 2023. In Brazil, the airports managed
by Aena registered more than 43.3 million
passengers, an increase of 8.6% on the
previous year and up 10.6% on 2019, the
last full year of passenger movement prior
to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since the company’s arrival in Brazil Juan José Sánchez Guinoza, Chief Commercial Officer
five years ago, Aena has grown to become at Aena Brasil
the largest airport operator in the country concession was R$2.45 billion, with Aena the six airports in the North-East, and these
in terms of number of airports and landing also paying a variable fee, with a four-year have been successfully handed over to the
and take-off operations; in addition, Aena grace period, consisting of a percentage of regulatory authorities,” Aena Brasil’s Chief
Brasil is the second largest operator in gross revenue, which will increase from Commercial Officer Juan José Sánchez
terms of total passengers. 3.23% to 16.15% per year. tells TMI.
Two separate concession contracts The two concessions are managed by “In the group of 11 airports, BOAB,
account for Aena’s current position. different companies under the Aena Brasil ten are set to be completed by June 2026.
In March 2019, Aena successfully bid umbrella: Aeroportos do Nordeste do Brasil Congonhas is scheduled to be finished by
R$1.90 billion to win the 30-year airport (ANB) and Bloco de Onze Aeroportos do June 2028.”
management contract to manage the Brasil (BOAB). Congonhas, in São Paulo, “Aena Brasil has been operating for
airports at Recife, Maceió, João Pessoa, is the largest airport in Aena’s Brazilian five years. Two years ago, we introduced a
Aracaju, Juazeiro do Norte, and Campina portfolio and in the BOAB group, with new commercial structure, to better address
Grande. The company took over the day- more than 23.1 million travelers in 2024, emerging challenges and opportunities,
to-day management of the six airports in an increase of 4.5% compared to the bringing in fresh talent to complement the
North-East Brazil in 2020. previous year. Recife Airport, the largest existing team,” Sánchez continues.
In 2023, the operator took over the airport in the ANB Group located in North- “Our commercial strategies and
management of the airports at Congonhas, East Brazil, handled 9.6 million passengers, planning are led by the head office team,
Campo Grande, Uberlândia, Santarém, a 6.1% increase on the previous year. based in São Paulo, while execution and
Marabá, Montes Claros, Paraupebas- “We have been busy with all sorts of day-to-day leadership are carried out by
Carajás, Uberaba, Altamira, Ponta Porã, works at all the airports we now manage. the commercial teams at each airport. We
and Corumbá. The fee for the 30-year All essential works have been completed in operate within a matrix-based structure

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