Korea Airports Corp. submits final proposal for Manta airport in Ecuador

KAC expands into region with deal to build Peru’s Chinchero-Cuso airport

Published : Nov 6, 2019 - 15:56 Updated : Nov 6, 2019 - 15:56

South Korean airport operator Korea Airports Corp. said Wednesday it submitted the final proposal for the operation of an airport in Manta, Ecuador, on Monday, after wrapping up a preliminary site survey and working-level discussions.

Manta is located in the capital of Quito, a popular vacation city responsible for about 10 percent of the country’s economy.

KAC has been selected as the preferred bidder to renovate, expand and operate the airport for 30 years. The airport had suffered damage during an earthquake in 2016.

Korea Airports Corporation President Son Chang-wan (right) and Jose Gabriel Martinez Castro (left), Ecuador’s Transport Minister conducts a site survey for an airport in Manta, Ecuador, Monday local time. (KAC)

The final proposal encompasses plans for the financial structure and traffic size as well as development plans for the airport reflecting demands from the Ecuadorian government, the firm said.

KAC President and CEO Son Chang-wan said Wednesday the company with over 40 years of experience will implement an IT-based smart airport system to contribute to the city and the country’s economy.

Earlier this week, KAC announced it will lead the construction of Peru’s new Chinchero International Airport, clinching a $500 million government-to-government deal.

KAC will act as a lead manager, taking the role of Project Management Office for the construction of the Chinchero-Cuso international airport, on behalf of the Peruvian government.

KAC President Son Chang-wan (third from left) and Carlos Cesar Arturo Estremadoyro Mory (fourth from left), Peru’s vice minister of transport, pose for a photo after clinching a deal on the construction of Chinchero international airport, in Lima, Peru, Friday. (KAC)

Previously, European airport operators, such as those from Germany and Spain, have led airport infrastructure export in the region.

Construction of the new airport is planned to be completed by 2024, with up to 5.7 million passengers expected at its terminal annually. The airport’s facilities will include smart technology-based runways, mooring and parking lots.

For the project, KAC has formed a public-private consortium called Team Korea, joined by Dowha Engineering, Kunwon Engineering and Hanmi Global.

“The new Chinchero international airport will become a world-class airport representing Peru, serving as the main gateway for the world’s tourist destination, Machu Picchu,” Son said at the groundbreaking ceremony in the Peruvian capital Lima.

Following the opening of the new airport leading directly to Machu Picchu, the aviation industry expects more US-Latin America routes to open.

By Kim Da-sol (ddd@heraldcorp.com)