The upfront payment of EUR 1.8125 billion represents 25 percent of the total concession fee of EUR 7.25 billion (excluding VAT) payable over the entire concession period from early 2027 to late 2051. On December 1, 2021, the two companies were awarded the new operating concession at Antalya Airport in a bidding process. The joint venture between Fraport and TAV already operates the airport on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. The current concession expires at the end of 2026.
Fraport has been an investor and airport operator at the site for over two decades. During this period, Antalya has developed into one of the most important hubs for international tourism in the Mediterranean. “With today’s advance payment of the concession fee, we are also reaffirming our commitment to the Antalya site,” emphasized the CEO of Fraport AG, Dr. Stefan Schulte. “We are convinced that Antalya will continue to thrive as an international brand thanks to its location in one of the most beautiful parts of the Mediterranean. As an attractive year-round destination with excellent value for money, Antalya will benefit from further increasing tourist demand.”
Antalya Airport is the most important transport hub on the Turkish Riviera. The region is known for its numerous cultural and historical sights as well as for its wide beaches, the gastronomic offer and the vibrant nightlife. Antalya is also very popular as a venue for international conferences and sporting events. Schulte emphasized the important role that the airport plays in this development: “Together with our partner TAV, we will continue to develop and expand Antalya as an international gateway in the region.”
The operator consortium made up of Fraport and TAV also wants to push ahead with the development of the airport’s airside and landside infrastructure over the next three years. Among other things, a further expansion of the two existing terminals for domestic and international air traffic is planned.
In 2019, Antalya Airport set a new passenger record with over 35 million passengers. Due to the corona pandemic, the number of passengers in 2020 fell to around 9.7 million passengers. But as early as 2021, Antalya again achieved a very good passenger development, especially in the summer months, and counted around 22 million passengers.
(red / Fraport)