around brazil

Brazils Airports
in Private Hands
A primeira grande privatizao do Governo Dilma de trs importantes aeroportos est prestes a decolar, aps greves e adiamentos. Ser que o pas dar conta do trfego areo causado pela Copa? E os custos envolvidos? Certamente estaro nas alturas... by bob
moser b2 upper intermediate
Biselli+Katchborian Arquitetos

| Turbulence? |

Infraero

GLOSSARY
1 has grown roughly: cresceu cerca de... 2 growth holding steady: crescimento mantendo-se estvel 3 climb out of poverty: ascendem da pobreza 4 has committed this year to start improving key airports: comprometeu-se a iniciar este ano a expanso de aeroportos chave. 5 will be handed off: sero concedidos 6 highest private bidder: licitante com o maior lance 7 rival: rivalizaro 8 largest: o maior 9 to kick off - dar o pontap inicial 10 gateways: terminais, portes de entrada e sada 11 far above: muito acima 12 through: ao longo de... 13 land: terreno, rea 14 handles: atende, capaz de comportar 18 eighteen

razils airline industry has grown roughly1 12% per year since 2003, and analysts see that growth holding steady2 through at least 2015 as millions of Brazilians climb out3 of poverty and into the middle class. Of Brazils 16 largest airports, nine now operate over recommended capacity. With an influx of tourists expected in 2014 and 2016, Brazils government has committed this year to start improving key airports4 through privatization. Control of three major international airports will be handed off5 in 2012 to the highest private bidder6 chosen in late december or early January, and new terminals will be built that rival7 the worlds largest8. Of the three airports Brazils Secretary of Civil aviation chose to kick off9 this first phase of privatization, two are main international gateways10 for the country that are now operating far above11 capacity, and the third is an airport officials say could become Brazils largest in a few decades. So paulos Guarulhos international re-

ceived 26.8 million passengers in 2010, 23% more compared to the year prior. through12 the first six months of 2011, passenger traffic rose 16% compared to the same period in 2010. Some 31.5 million passengers passed through Guarulhos in 2011, though it was built to receive 26 million. the second for privatization, Brasilia international, is operating almost 50% above capacity for its terminal space today. theyre joined by Viracopos international in Campinas, which currently serves 7 million passengers per year, but has the land13 and accessability to expand to as much as 80 million, SaC says, nearly four times what So paulos Guarulhos handles14 today. Viracopos can be the future, it grew 49% in passenger traffic in 2010, said Wagner Bittencourt, SaC minister. theres a lot of space to grow there. if we can have a train connecting these cities (rio de Janeiro, So paulo and Campinas) in the future, we can create the logistical structure necessary to focus growth at Viracopos.

State and federal governments think the political and commercial will15 is there to boost the profile of Viracopos-Campinas as a major international airport. a highspeed train that would link airports from rio to Campinas has been in a stalemate16 for years, and suffered a failed auction17 in July when domestic and foreign bidders abstained. if the high-speed rail project never materializes, state and airport authorities may consider investing in their own train line between So paulo and Viracopos airport. Bittencourt is admittedly obsessed with the idea that airports should compete with one another. thats one reason why the private bidder that takes over18 So paulos Guarulhos international wont be allowed to also bid for a nearby airport like Viracopos. Foreign companies have entered bids19 for the first three major airports. a government decision is expected on december 22, but could be delayed into January. the private firms that win could take over operations at each airport by as early

as march 2012. in august, the new So Gonalo do amarante airport being built in rio Grande do norte state was the first Brazilian airport put in private hands, contracted for 25 years to a Brazilian-argentinian firm. private owners will hold 51% ownership20 of their airports, with infraero maintaining a 49% interest21, but supposedly ceding all decision-making power to the private manager. expanding So paulo-Guarulhos will be priority no. 1 of infraero and whatever private bidder wins control there. an architectural design was chosen for terminal 3 at Gru earlier this year. at 230,000 square metres, itll be the largest airport terminal in South america once complete. Forty percent of the terminal should be complete by the end of 2013 at a cost of r$753.96 million. it will partially open in 2014 for the World Cup at a capacity of 7.5 million passengers per annum, and when fully completed terminal 3 will handle 18.8 million visitors per year.

(Left) The Viracopos Airport in Campinas could become one of Brazils largest in the future, if privatization goes as planned. (Above) Architectural designs for Guarulhos Airports Terminal 3 show it could be one of the most modern terminals in the world.

GLOSSARY
15 will: vontade 16 stalemate: impasse 17 failed auction: teve um leilo malsucedido 18 takes over: controlam 19 have entered bids: deram seus lances, apresentaram suas ofertas 20 will hold 51% ownership: sero detentores de 51% das aes 21 interest: (aqui) participao acionria nineteen 19