Sociedad Operadora de Aeropuertos Centro Norte

Airplan is a company established for the purpose of operating a concession agreement. It handles the operations, business affairs, upgrading, and maintenance of six airports in northwestern Colombia, in the cities of Medellín, Rionegro, Quibdó, Montería, Carepa, and Corozal. The six airports are Olaya Herrera in Medellín, José María Córdova in Rionegro, El Caraño in Quibdó, Los Garzones in Montería, Antonio Roldán in Carepa, and Las Brujas in Corozal.

In 2009, a total of 4.3 million passengers traveled through the six airports, which account for 17% of Colombia’s total air traffic. Of the six airports, the two main ones—those in Rionegro and Medellín—handle 83% of the passengers and service air traffic for the city of Medellín and surrounding areas, with a total population of over 3 million people. The other four airports are located in small and medium-size cities with populations that range between 40,000 and 400,000. The primary activities in these cities are fisheries, livestock, agribusiness, mining, and trade. Of the six airports under the concession agreement, Rionegro is the only international one.

The project sponsors are Supertiendas y Droguerías Olímpica S.A., Portales Urbanos S.A., and Sociedad Colombiana de Inversiones Comerciales S.A., which focuses in the supermarket, real estate, and construction business; Fernando Mazuera y Cía. S.A., Malibú S.A., and Noarco S.A., which are construction companies; CAH de Colombia S.A., a subsidiary of Capital Airports Holding Company, China’s main airport group, with ample experience in operating airports of varying sizes; and two information technology companies, Información y Tecnología S.A., and Intelred.

The estimated total investment during the term of the concession agreement is approximately US$180 million, for equipping and improving the terminal and ramps, as well as maintaining the runways. Of the total investment, approximately US$140 million will be used during the first five years of the concession agreement. The remaining US$40 million will be used for resurfacing the six runways twice, at 45% and 90% of expected income, respectively.

With this operation, the IIC will be supporting the development and modernization of airport infrastructure in six Colombian cities, generating a significant economic impact, especially in the small and medium-size cities. It is also expected that the concession will improve passenger and cargo handling quality and efficiency. In addition, the Rionegro and Medellín airports will be operated in accordance with international standards and in keeping with IATA’s Class B, which is a positive feature for developing the national economy and the regional economy spanning Colombia’s northwestern departments.

The proposed operation consists of a loan of up to US$15,000,000.