Page 20 - Special Issue Asutil Conference 2025

INSIDER

that emphasizes collaboration, continuous
feedback, and shared success. The team’s
focus extends beyond duty-paid, and duty
free retail, VIP lounges, and food and
beverage. We also explore opportunities
in services such as parking, car rentals,
transportation, and telecommunications.
Additionally, our portfolio includes
aviation fuel, aeronautical services,
domestic and international cargo, and real
estate assets at each airport.
“Managing 17 airports, each with its
own unique profile and set of challenges, is
undoubtedly complex. However, in a short
period, we have developed a system that is
working well. We have been working hard,
and there are many exciting opportunities Aena, along with Dufry do Brasil, inaugurated a walk-through duty-paid
ahead.” store at Congonhas.
Now that the essential work has
been completed at the six North-Eastern
airports, Sánchez says that the focus Uruguay (Montevideo), Argentina (Buenos says Sánchez. “E-commerce remains one
has shifted to refining shop designs and Aires Ezeiza and Aeroparque; as well as of our strongest growth opportunities as
introducing innovative concepts to boost Córdoba), and Paraguay (Asunción, in the we continue to expand cargo capabilities
the performance of the retail mix. high season). across our network.”
The Block of 11 airports present a “International traffic is growing at
different challenge. Recife, Maceió, and João Pessoa and we Congonhas
“Our clear objective across all airports feel that growth will continue for several Congonhas, the biggest airport in the
is to deliver a new commercial offer years.” portfolio, only serves Brazilian domestic
spanning more than 24,000 sqm and to Aena also sees opportunities for flights.
enhance the overall airport experience for revenue generation among some of the “Significant transformations have
all travelers,” explains Sánchez. smaller airports like Marabá despite low already taken place at Congonhas. When
While Congonhas is the flagship asset, passenger figures. we took over the concession, the airside
Aena remains highly optimistic about the “Very often we find we can make solid commercial offer was much smaller. Most
potential across the entire portfolio. revenues from real estate opportunities of the food and beverage options were
“We recognize that Congonhas is our due to its excellent location. For example, located landside, and even two of the
most valuable asset, but our strategy is to we are currently offering to the market a three VIP lounges were located before the
develop the entire network.” prime airport property for the development security control. We have since changed
For example, Campo Grande has of a 28,000 sqm wholesaler store,” notes our strategy, to focus on enhancing the
enormous potential to grow as it is Sánchez. airside experience,” notes Sánchez.
considered a wealthy region, given its “In some of the smaller airports, “When we took over the management
strong economy, with one of the highest revenues are not driven by retail or food of Congonhas, we quickly identified
GDP per capita in Brazil. and beverage. In fact, rental car services significant underutilized commercial space
“Uberlândia is an economic can generate surprisingly high income, within the terminal. At the time, most
powerhouse. Its diversified economy depending on the airport’s location and the of the commercial offer was primarily
includes agriculture-related businesses, profile of its travelers,” Sánchez explains. concentrated on the landside. Our initial
manufacturing, and technology. In addition, “In other airports logistics services goal was to implement quick enhancements
its advanced infrastructure and strategic are a major revenue driver, especially as to elevate the traveler experience, while
location make it an important logistics hub. we expand our domestic and international simultaneously laying the groundwork for
We will be looking for growth there over cargo operations.” long-term development.”
the next few years. Cargo has shown a strong Aena opened more than ten new
“If we look at the wonderful North- performance in the past year, with cargo commercial stores at Congonhas last year
East of Brazil, we will see that Recife is handling growing by 16%, surpassing – resulting in a vast improvement in retail,
one of our better-known airports, outside 150,000 tons. The outlook for this year is says Sánchez – as well as revitalizing
the country, and we believe we will reach for a slight increase due to macroeconomic outdated passageways that had remained
10 million passengers this year. Currently, conditions in Brazil. unchanged for decades.
11 international routes connect Recife “Air cargo volumes are highly “With Dufry do Brasil, our retail
International Airport with other countries, sensitive to the global macroeconomic partner at Congonhas, we inaugurated a
including Portugal (Lisbon and Porto), environment. However, the domestic much improved walk-through duty-paid
Spain (Madrid), the United States (Fort market tends to be more resilient, largely store bringing it up to date compared to the
Lauderdale and Orlando), Chile (Santiago), driven by the growth of e-commerce,” very outdated retail model that was here

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