Christmas, February 19, 2024 – As of 00:01 this Monday (19), Zurich Airport Brasil is the new operator of Natal International Airport, in São Gonçalo do Amarante. To celebrate this moment, the concessionaire received the first landing, after taking over the operation, with the traditional baptism of the aircraft with water jets and carried out a special action with the delivery of gifts to the passengers of the inaugural flight. In the afternoon, the official ceremony of transferring operational responsibility from Inframerica Aeroportos, which managed the airport since 2012, to Zurich Airport International, winner of the re-bidding auction and which now transfers the mission to the group company, Zurich Airport Brasil, took place. to operate the airport over the next 30 years. 

The official ceremony was attended by executives from the Zurich Airport International group in Brazil, the CEO for Latin America, Tobias Markert, and the CEO of Zurich Airport Brasil, Ricardo Gesse. Numerous authorities were present, including the Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho; the Governor of the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Fátima Bezerra; the President of Embratur, Marcelo Freixo, and the mayor of São Gonçalo do Amarante, Eraldo Costa. On the occasion, the airport's new brand, Natal Airport, and the concessionaire's investments for 2024 were presented.

One of the main requests from passengers will already be met by the new operator: with R$1,5 million allocated, the concessionaire will implement improvements to the air conditioning system at the airport. There is also a cleaning and restoration project in all areas of the terminal, which began last weekend and should last around 2 months. Another new feature now available is the free and unlimited internet service, which allows passengers to remain online 24 hours a day. 
 
“The investments show our concern with the quality of services and the experience of our passengers, something that is in our DNA. Today we are committed to, over the next 30 years, bringing improvements that will take the airport to a new level, which will contribute to the development of the state of Rio Grande do Norte”, says Ricardo Gesse, CEO of Zurich Airport Brasil.

The total investment planned for the next 5 years is R$50 million. 

“This first re-tender was made during President Lula's third government and as fate would have it, Zurich could take over this airport, one of the best airport operators in the world. I have no doubt that the state receives a gift from the Zurich operation. Investments that will be made over the next five years of more than R$50 million, of which this year alone will be almost R$12 million. These investments will prepare our airport to receive both national and international tourists”, highlighted the Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho.

According to the State Governor, Fátima Bezerra, the re-tendering of the equipment was awaited and was made possible thanks to the joint efforts of the Federal and State Governments and Zurich Airport International: “From now on, we are definitely following a new path, with the duration of the contract of 30 years, the entire airport community and the people of Rio Grande do Norte must be prepared to better receive the more than 6 million passengers, the number for which it was built and we will certainly work together to reach these numbers”, pointed out Fátima Bezerra . 

The mayor of São Gonçalo do Amarante, the city in which the airport is located, commented on the arrival of the new administrator. "Zurich Airport raises our standards and drives progress in the region, as the new concessionaire is a fundamental piece in the growth and modernization of Natal International Airport, contributing to the strengthening of airport infrastructure and boosting the economic potential of RN and São Gonçalo do Amarante”, stated Eraldo.

In Latin America, the Swiss group is present in 5 operations in Brazil: it has 100% of the concession of the airports of Natal, Florianópolis, Vitória and Macaé and is the operator of BH Airport, where it makes investments in partnership with Infraero and CCR Aeroportos. Furthermore, it is the operator of Bogotá Airport, in Colombia, and holds 100% of the concessions for 2 airports in Chile – Iquique and Antofagasta. In the Caribbean, it is the operator of Curaçao Airport, where it has partnerships with CCR Aeroportos and Janssen de Jong Caribbean Airport.

"By taking over the ninth airport operation in Latin America, the fifth in Brazil, and the first in the Northeast region, we reinforce the importance of the Brazilian market for Zurich Airport International's international business. Today we celebrate the result of our efforts to win the concession of Natal Airport, the first re-tender in Brazil, an important milestone within our expansion strategy. We arrived with the purpose of imprinting our style as airport developers, focusing on quality at a level of excellence, efficiency and regional development", says Tobias Markert, CEO of Zurich Airport Latin America.