Rio de Janeiro International Airport – Antonio Carlos Jobim, Galeão, is expected to go from the current 18 million passengers to 30 million in three years. The forecast is the Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho.
The forecast was on Thursday (25), during the signing ceremony of the Term of Concession Agreement of the Airport, in one of the VIP rooms of the terminal. In practice, adjustment is a way of allowing the economic balance of the operation granted to private initiative.
“We left just under 5 million passengers in 2023 to over 18 million this year, and the projection is to reach 30 million over the next three years. This restructuring strengthens tourism, logistics and job and income generation, reaffirming the role of Galeão as a strategic asset for Brazil,” said Costa Filho.
The airport is controlled by RIOGALEÃO, a dealership formed by the Changi Airports International group from Singapore, and Vinci Compass from Brazil, which together, together, 51% of the operation.
The other 49% belong to the Brazilian Airport Infrastructure Company (Infraero), state -owned to the Ministry of Ports and Airports.
The concession began in 2014, with a bid of $ 19 billion, almost four times higher than that defined in the notice. At the time, it was expected to reach 37.7 million passengers in 2024.
Giving up
In 2022, when the terminal suffered effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, which considerably reduced the number of passengers, the controlling group formally expressed the government the intention to return the operation.
The following year, Changi sought the government to renegotiate the contract. The negotiation ended in 2024, and the definitive terms of the renegotiation were evaluated in June by the Federal Court of Audit (TCU). The National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC), the sector regulatory body, participated in the elaboration.
The document also had the endorsement of all involved and control bodies, such as the Federal Prosecutor (MPF) and the Attorney General of the Union (AGU).
The increase in the number of passengers in Galeão was part of the negotiations and was one of the factors defended by the concessionaire.
“Today, we are celebrating, not merely an agreement, but the resumption of strategic planning to strengthen this great active of South America, because Galeão will become the great hub [ponto de conexão] of the international aviation of South America, ”said the minister.
Changes
Among the changes provided for in the contract is the form of payment for the concession. The grant to be paid annually by the concessionaire, instead of being fixed, will be 20% of the airport’s gross revenues. Before, it was fixed at about $ 1 billion.
When the original concession began in 2014, the airport exploration period by private initiative was 25 years, going until 2039. The date is maintained, but Minister Costa Filho signaled that the folder studies an extension. There was also adjustment of the criteria to avoid the obligation to build the third track, considering the current airport demand.
Tom Jobim International Airport Flight Panel in Galeão, after migration of routes operated at Santos Dumont Airport. Fernando Frazão/Agência Brasil
Consensus
The Ministry’s executive secretary, Tomé Franca, considers that the agreement reinforces legal certainty for investors. “It is a clear signaling that Brazil is a safe place to invest, generate jobs and boost economic and social development.”
According to ANAC director Rui Chagas Mesquita, the renegotiation has found an exit “for the serious crisis this concession faced over the last few years” and sought “a more advantageous solution to the public interest.”
The president of the concessionaire RIOGALEÃO, Alexandre Monteiro, considers that the renegotiation reflects the need to adapt the contract to the most modern concession parameters in Brazil.
“Recognition that the continuity of concessionaire management in front of the airport brings positive results to the end users of this fantastic infrastructure equipment of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil, passengers and importers and exporters of cargo,” he said.
New sale
Galeão’s assisted sale is scheduled for March 2026 and a minimum bid of R $ 932 million is set to obtain the right to explore the airport. In addition, it is agreed that Infraero will sell all participation (49% of the airport) to the winning group.
According to Minister Costa Filho, Infraero’s value shall correspond to about 40% to 50% of the minimum bid.
ANAC has opened a public consultation to collect suggestions for the preparation of the assisted sale notice. Society contributions can be made until November 5.
“There is no shortage of stakeholders, because Galeão has passed, from now on, to be an appreciated asset. It is a structure that is ready, after this rebalancing that has been made, to seek economic agents that want to invest in this asset. It seems that Vinci itself and Changi want to continue and, of course, will have their democratic right to participate,” he said.
On the 27th, RIOGALEÃO reported that the Investment Manager Vinci Compass bought 70% of the shares that belonged to Changi.
Galeão x Santos Dumont
The resumption of the protagonism of Galeão happened at a time when the federal government was provoked by the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes, to limit the number of flights at Santos Dumont airport in the city center.
Paes’s concern was that the largest movement in Santos Dumont, closer to Rio de Janeiro tourist areas, caused Galeão’s emptying. At the time, a decision of the then Minister of Ports and Airports, Márcio França, limited the number of flights.
With the renegotiation in Galeão, there is a gradual release of the maximum number of passengers in Santos Dumont. Currently, the ceiling is 6.5 million annual passengers.
According to Minister Costa Filho, the growth of the economy will allow the growth of travelers in both airports, without cannibalization.
“From March, we have the possibility to gradually expand, but we will only make this discussion next year, because we have an investment plan that is being made at Santos Dumont.”
Mayor Eduardo Paes highlighted the political will of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for the resumption of passengers in Galeão. “It slapped the table,” joked Paes, referring to the president’s decision, who went over interests that avoided passenger migration between the airports.
“President Lula is largely responsible for this moment here, he was the one who once again demonstrated his affection with Rio de Janeiro.”
Future of Infraero
Of the 180 airports that operate regular flights in Brazil, 59 are operated by private companies, under federal concession, representing about 90% of the movement of domestic passengers.
Of the main terminals, Santos Dumont is the only one that is not granted, being controlled by Infraero.
“It is not yet on the government’s radar to make a concession of Santos Dumont, but I think in the future this debate may happen within the government itself,” he said.
Before arriving at Galeão, Costa Filho was at Santos Dumont Airport, where he made a technical visit to evaluate the operating conditions of the works being done. According to him, there are $ 450 million in investments, of which $ 300 million already in progress, ranging from the bathroom to the expansion of the track.
About the future of the state -owned company, the minister said that the tendency is for the company to focus on regional airports.
“We have already ordered studies to increasingly discuss Infraero’s institutional role,” he said. “I think Infraero can become a large regional airport operator in Brazil.”
