CAPA Airport Investors Database: Municipal airports will struggle, some investors see opportunities

Airport deals have taken a battering since the onset of the coronavirus. Predictably there is very limited deal activity at present, but there will be some who see opportunities. One big question is around the future fundamental nature of airports as a commercial investment.

On the other hand, the virus has been such a drain on public funds that public sector operating funds in airports, let alone investment in airports, are going to dry up. Some municipalities simply will not be able to keep their airports going at all, so there may be some new players who see long term prospects as the air transport business recovers. There may even be a return of those operators from other transport sectors, and certain funds, which specialised in those airports which cater specifically to the low cost segment, a decade or more ago.

CAPA's Airport Investor database that began in 2012 - including everything from individuals to sovereign wealth funds - is approaching a landmark 1000 entries. Despite the huge decline in deal activity (sales, leases, build-operate-transfer (BOT) variants, concessions etc.), some new entries continue to be made.