Rio de Janeiro GIG and Belo Horizonte CNF concession grants approved by audit court

Brazil's Rio de Janeiro Galeão International Airport and Belo Horizonte Tancredo Neves International Airport's upcoming concession grants received (12-Sep-2013) approval from Brazil's federal Court of Audit (TCU), with conditions. The TCU raised the following proposals and concerns:

• Raise Galeão's minimum bid from BRL4.7 billion (USD2 billion) to BRL4.8 billion (USD2.1 billion) and Tancredo Neves' from BRL994 million (USD437 million) to BRL1.09 billion (USD479 million);
• Review the need for Infraero's participation in the concessions, and if the state-owned operator remains with a minority 49% stake, this should be reduced over time;
• Provide the technical reasoning for why potential bidders need experience operating facilities with at least 35 million passengers p/a, which "may unduly restrict competition in the granting process";

The TCU said it would continue to monitor concession grant progress. As previously reported by CAPA, bidding is expected to open 31-Oct-2013. [more - original PR - Portuguese]