The government has announced that is preparing the specifications of a international tender for the construction of the first stage of the project, in the amount of $107 million.
For the second time, the Honduran government has made changes to the bidding rules for the construction of the airport in Comayagua. The first phase will cost $107 million and will be built on the Enrique Soto Cano base in Palmerola.
The cancellation of the current lease and Spain's agreement to use funds from debt restructuring, have enabled a new tender for the construction and operation of the Honduran airport.
The construction project includes a new airport runway with a length of 2,440 meters for the operation of commercial vessels which are widebodied and without any restrictions and low restrictions for long-haul destinations.
Currently being contemplated is the possibility of canceling the contract for the construction and management of the airport, awarded in January, and putting out a new tender for the procedure.
Due to the fact that airport safety in the country is now the responsibility of the government, the Commission for the Promotion of Public Private Partnerships (Coalianza) has announced that they are studying the possibility of canceling the contract which was awarded to Saisa, which included the management of security, and instead launching a new tender which would remove the issue of security from the contract.
A subsidiary of Terra Group will be responsible for the design, financing, construction, and maintenance and operation of the International Airport at Palmerola.
From a press release issued by the Commission for the Promotion of Public-Private Partnerships:
The Commission for the Promotion of Public Private Partnerships (COALIANZA) has awarded to Constructora de Servicios Aeroportuarios Integrados S.A.(SAISA), the Contract for the Design, Financing, Construction, Maintenance and Operation of Palmerola International Airport, which will be located in the city of Comayagua, on the road axis between Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula.
The company which is already operating other airports in Honduras was the only one to provide a technical and financial proposal for the award.
The Honduran company Servicios Aeroportuarios Integrados S.A. (Saisa), a subsidiary of Terra Group, submitted the technical and financial offer after being shortlisted along with the consortium of Colombian origin Concay SA, who ultimately decided not to present a proposal for the construction of the new terminal.
After a process that has gone on for several years in Honduras the start of the opening of bids for the concession of the international airport in Comayagua has begun.
Laprensa.hn reports: "The Commission for the Promotion of Public-Private Partnerships (Coalianza) announced the opening of public hearings for the contract with an investor interested in building Palmerola international airport."
The opening of bids for Palmerola, scheduled for November, has been postponed at the request of two of the companies interested in building the airport.
"The deadline for Palmerola was put back to late September at the request of one of the bidders, but we have had a request from another bidder who is asking for more time. We will evaluate if indeed it is worth extending the deadline, which could be moved to November," said Jose Antonio Pineda, chief of the Commission for the Promotion of Public-Private Partnerships (Coalianza).
With an investment of $270 million plans are underway to build a runway at Aeródromo Río Amarillo, and reconstruction of the Chamelecón road up to the border of Ocotepeque.
"... A decree has been passed authorizing the execution of a trust agreement for the project entitled "Financing, Construction, Operation and Maintenance of Aeródromo Río Amarillo in the municipality of Santa Rita in Copan", reported Laprensa.hn.
The company of Chinese origin, Harbour Engineering Company, has acquired the requirements to participate in the tender for the construction of Palmerola airport.
This company is the sixth to present itself before the Promotion of Public-Private Partnerships (Coalianza) to purchase the tender specifications for the project that will cost about $130 million in its first stage.
The financing has been assured by the Inter-American Development Bank, but the construction works that would increase the influx of international tourism by 20% are still awaiting a political decision.
IDB funds of $6.3 million, the land and the plans are all available, the only thing lacking is the political will to build it.
The president of the National Chamber of Tourism in Honduras (CANATURH), Epaminondas Marinakys together with a Spanish expert in tourism have met with the Finance Minister who promised to carry out the project, adding "even if it is late, it has to be done" .
The expansion work and repair of the airport will be completed in a period of five years.
Representatives from Aeropuertos de Honduras, the company responsible for the operation of Roatan airport, announced the investment project to city officials and businessmen.
Among the works to be carried out are the expansion by 3,000 square feet of the terminal building, the implementation of a new air conditioning system, repair of the runway and aircraft parking expansion.
The company Aeropuertos de Honduras has announced an investment of $52 million into expanding and remodeling four international terminals.
Fredy Nasser, president of Aeropuertos de Honduras, said that the works will be carried out at the airports of Toncontín in Tegucigalpa, Goloson in La Ceiba, Juan Manuel Galvez in Roatan, and San Pedro Sula.
The former president of the Cortes Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIC), Oscar Galeano, told Latribuna.hn "the investment in the international airport in San Pedro Sula, will cover the purchase and acquisition of technology for the operation of the flights, air conditioning improvements, expansion of the terminal and the installation of three additional walkways, among other improvements. "
The Honduran government is awaiting the results of a feasibility study before beginning the project.
The president of Honduras, Porfirio Lobo, reiterated the government's intention to remodel the Palmerola commercial airport, also known as Soto Cano in order to replace the International Airport, Toncontin.
Lobo indicated that they are waiting for a technical study that is being conducted by a Spanish company, with which they can determine the feasibility of the project and analyze the proposal that has already been received from the builder.
Singapore will provide financial assistance to conduct studies for the construction of the new Palmerola Airport.
The deal was agreed during the official visit of Honduran president, Porfirio Lobo Sosa, to the Asian island.
The head of the Ministry of Public Works, Transportation and Housing of Honduras, Miguel Pastor, a member of the official delegation, said, "We completed the signing of a memorandum of understanding with strong support from Singapore in the construction planning phase of the new terminal in the sector of Palmerola Comayagua," reports Laprensa.hn.
InterAirports authorities, Tegucigalpa airport concessionaire, announced the availability of funds for its construction.
Edgardo Maradiaga, head of Honduran Airports, added that construction of a highway to the airport should be a settled matter before the new terminal is built.
"He stated that there is the possibility of extending the concession contract, which for the past 10 years has reshaped the country's air terminals, to operate the new airport but appropriate channels given by the law must be followed," reported Latribuna.hn.