The rise of the airport group – the way of the future for airports?

Twenty-seven specialist airport groups now control around 425 airports globally. These collectively handle nearly a third of global passenger traffic and a quarter of cargo tonnage. The top 38 largest investor-owned (fully or partially) airport companies represented almost a third of world airport revenue; and half of that was at just five companies.

• Are infrastructure funds and airport groups now the vehicle of choice for airport privatisation?

• Are there market and circumstances that make airports more (or less) attractive to such groups?

• How do airports perform financially and operationally after airport group takeover?

• What implications does airport group ownership have for the relationships between airlines and airports?

• What is the role of airport groups in the development of greenfield and brownfield infrastructure projects?