Airports Council International (ACI) World and ACI Latin America and the Caribbean (ACI LAC) jointly released, on Monday, their new guideline document for airport development by means of concession agreements. The document, entitled 'Airport Development Concessions Agreements: Global Approaches and Guidelines for Public-Private Partnerships' (PPPs), was released at the joint ACI World and ACI North America Annual General Assembly, Conference and Exhibition, in Toronto, Canada.

“Airports are vital to connectivity, trade and social and economic development – and as demand grows, governments face real fiscal constraints to provide necessary, efficient, and sustainable infrastructure to meet this demand,” pointed out ACI World director-general Justin Erbacci. “Well-structured [PPPs] and concessions can mobilise investment, improve efficiency, and deliver world-class infrastructure, while safeguarding the public interest. ACI remains neutral on ownership choices; what matters is transparent governance, balanced risk allocation, and long-term value for passengers and communities.”

The new document provides clear and practical guidelines for the structuring and implementation of private-sector participation at airports. These guidelines cover advisers, concessionaires, governments, grantors, investors and lenders.

In terms of topics, the document covered the state of the airport concessions sector; comprehensive guidelines for airport development concession agreements, from preparation and negotiation, feasibility and execution, to management; the identification of risk and the allocation of financial, operational and demand risk frameworks; model templates and clauses for balanced and transparent partnerships; best practices in dispute resolution, governance and performance monitoring; global case studies of airport development concession models, and the lessons they have taught; and guidance on community value and sustainability in the development of airports.    

“These guidelines are built on decades of experience across our region and beyond,” highlighted ACI LAC director-general Dr Rafael Echevarne. “They offer governments and investors a clear, practical framework to structure airport partnerships that are transparent, resilient, and focused on long-term value for passengers, communities, and economies.”

Currently, there were more than 850 airports, in more than 90 countries, that had some kind of private sector participation. And this number was growing, ACI World noted. As of January this year, there had been 132 airport private sector participation transactions worldwide, at various stages of development.

ACI World is the global representative body for airports.