The new parking platform raises to 22 the number of aircraft that can be attended to simultaneously at the international airport in San Salvador.
Elsalvador.com reports that "...The work represents the first expansion project with a direct impact on customer service for passenger aircraft at San Salvador International Airport in the last 18 years and will be crucial in improving its operational capacity."
Tenants of commercial property at the international airport have announced they will not make investments until the government states whether it will renew contracts and maintain rent costs.
The lack of concrete answers from the Autonomous Executive Port Commission (CEPA) could endanger new investment of at least 84 tenants operating in the El Salvador International Airport, reported Elsalvador.com.
A tender has been launched for the design of an extension of the passenger terminal building, 4 aircraft parking spaces and 4 waiting rooms at the Comalapa International Airport.
Government Purchase El Salvador LP-21/2016
"Construction of four (4) waiting rooms for passengers at the International Airport of El Salvador, Monsignor Oscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdamez".
The Executive Port Commission is putting out to tender consulting services for engineering designs for the expansion of the passenger terminal at the Monsignor Romero airport in San Salvador.
Government Purchase DR-CAFTA El Salvador ADACA-EU-LA CEPA 12/2015:
"CONSULTING SERVICES FOR ENGINEERING DESIGNS FOR EXTENSION OF PASSENGER TERMINAL AT THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT OF EL SALVADOR, MONSIGNOR OSCAR ARNULFO ROMER Y GALDAMEZ."
Although the master plan is ready, changes in the Autonomous Executive Port Commission and other factors have delayed, again, the modernization of the international airport in El Salvador.
Roberto Kriete, co-founder and member of the board of Avianca Holdings told Laprensagrafica.com that "... 'the airport is an issue that has a very large financial impact nationally and it is a topic that unfortunately when there are changes of government and even more so changes in leadership at the CEPA (the modernization process) there is a delay of at least six months while it is all reviewed ...There are obvious needs for the expansion of the airport terminal, and (it is obvious) that the process of modernization should be sped up.'"
The Government has not yet decided how it will attain the resources needed and how it will carry out the expansion of the San Salvador International Airport.
According to authorities, there are 4 options for financing this expansion: a public-private partnership (PPP), a loan from multilateral banks, investment funds or lease to an airline building its own terminal.
The Autonomous Executive Port Commission is preparing a tender for the construction of a passenger waiting room and the remodeling of the parking spaces at the international airport in San Salvador.
According to information from the Autonomous Executive Port Commission (CEPA) of El Salvador, the waiting room will require an investment of about $5 million, and will be on the first floor of the airport terminal and will have capacity for 400 people.
CEPA has announced that its master plan for the renovation and modernization of the El Salvador International Airport will be ready in November.
According to Alberto Arene, president of the Comisión Ejecutiva Portuaria Autónoma (CEPA), the plan aims to leverage more non-airport operations and will be executed next year.
A new wind farm and the expansion of the International Airport of El Salvador, are the first two projects to be conducted under this system.
"Today (yesterday) I called a meeting with the president of CEPA (Autonomous Executive Port Commission) and CEL (Executive Hydroelectric Commission of the Lempa River) to immediately structure the first two projects: the expansion of the international airport and the wind project which the CEL is working with," said Alexander Segovia, Technical Secretary of the Presidency.
In El Salvador plans are afoot to launch a tender at the International Airport at the beginning of 2013, after securitization that could take shape in December 2012.
Elsalvador.com.sv reports that "The Autonomous Executive Port Commission (CEPA) said yesterday that they will wait until December to securitize part of the revenue from International Airport El Salvador (AIES) and that it will be used to improve the facilities of this terminal. "
Without ruling out the idea of building their own airport terminal, the airline will wait to see how the modernization works initiated by the Executive Port Commission (CEPA) evolve.
Fidel Chavez Mena, vice president and legal representative of TACA, said that after meetings with representatives from CEPA, they have agreed to wait and see how the financing of the works evolves.
The Salvadoran Legislative Assembly has authorized the securitization of up to 20% of flows in order to finance improvements on the airport in El Salvador.
"Parliamentarians voted for the project, prepared by the Finance Committee, arguing that it is necessary to install air conditioners, modernize other areas, including the restrooms, in order to improve the quality of service to users", noted an article in Laprensagrafica.com
The administrative entity from the International Airport of El Salvador is expecting a formal proposal from TACA airlines to build a new terminal.
The president of the Autonomous Executive Port Commission (Cepa), Alberto Arene, said that when they have received a formal proposal by the airline it will be studied and evaluated. A renovation plan for the terminal is currently being developed.
The government of El Salvador has welcomed an announcement by the President of the airline of their intention to build its own terminal at Comalapa.
The Technical Secretary of the Presidency, Alexander Segovia, in light of statements by AviancaTaca’s CEO Roberto Kriete said, "A few weeks ago, the president of TACA approached us. We have assembled a working group. They are interested in building a terminal themselves, and we are very interested. "
Roberto Kriete has announced that that the renovation of the El Salvador International Airport, one way or another, will be carried out within a maximum period of three years.
The chairman of the board of AviancaTaca told Laprensagrafica.com that Comalapa airport needs not only improvements, but a complete update according to a master plan designed by Aéroports de Paris.