Curitiba Airport terminal expansion service order signed; apron expansion in final stages

Brazil's Infraero signed (13-May-2013) a service order to begin BRL247 million (USD125 million) passenger terminal renovation and expansion works at Curitiba Afonso Pena Airport. The first stage of the project will involve the construction of 32 new check-in counters, eight new aerobridges, 17 new elevators, six new escalators and four new baggage carousels. Works on the first stage are expected to be complete by May-2014, and will boost airport capacity to 10.4 million passengers p/a. The second stage of construction will then begin, involving the renovation and expansion of the terminal building itself to boost capacity to 14.6 million passengers p/a, which is scheduled for completion in 2016. Meanwhile, the airport is in the final stages of BRL27 million (USD13.5 million) apron expansion works, which are expected to be complete by Apr-2013 and create nine new aircraft parking positions while expanding apron area from 84,000sqm to 144,000sqm. As previously reported by CAPA, Infraero is also evaluating a bid by IQS Engenharia for preliminary studies on construction of a third runway at the airport. [more - original PR - Portuguese]