Expectation in committee for the possibility of participation of other companies in concession of the Manta airport

Manta, MANABI

After learning that the new process of delegation of the Eloy Alfaro airport in Manta would be open to the possibility that other companies linked to airport activities participate, expectations have been generated in the representatives of the Inter-institutional Civic Committee of this Manabi port.

Lucía Fernández, president of this committee, pointed out that the requests made by this civic entity so that the concession is not handed over in a directed manner paid off, after announcing that the Municipality of Manta is talking about the call to participate in a new delegation process to be proposed in the coming weeks could involve other companies or companies dedicated to airport services.

The former president of the Manta Chamber of Commerce indicated that in this request there were also representatives of various production chambers and important citizens of Manta so that the concession is not delegated almost directly to the Korean public company Korean Airport Corporation (KAC). .

After receiving powers from the airport, the mayor of Manta talks about the plans for managing that infrastructure

Fernández considered that if the Manta airport concession had been granted for a 30-year term, this terminal would have had a “catastrophic” fate due to the effects it could have had on profits for the city.

He said that it is hoped that in the future concession the projection of an intercontinental airport with investment in its infrastructure and multiple services will be consolidated. “Of course, in an ethical, transparent and honest way, values ​​that, in the conduct of this civic organization, have always been the light that marks the daily course of our struggles,” he said.

He added that for the next call to the airport delegation, the Municipality of this canton should remain in the shortest possible time to a company that offers advantages to the city and projects it as one of the best air terminals in all of South America.

For the head of the Inter-institutional Civic Committee of Manta, the proposal that was announced by the KAC did not give advantages to the city of Manta. For example, she cited her, the guarantee of seriousness of the offer was presented only in a simple copy, which made its execution impossible.

“Being the only aerodrome in South America that has an airway already established and approved by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the UN789 that connects Manta with Tahiti (Asia), is an added value that no other airport has. right now, and if we join forces and work selflessly, we will make history throughout Ecuador,” Fernandez said.

Last Thursday, Agustín Intriago, mayor of Manta, said that experienced people will be sought in the country to carry out the administration of the air terminal and project it to the new international delegation or concession process, although there is still no defined date for the start. of the calling process.

It even hinted that the Asian company Korean Airport Corporation (KAC) would no longer be the only one with the possibility of being awarded the concession process, as it has been in recent years, that is, as the only one interested in being awarded that process.

“For us, the KAC was important by virtue of the time factor, because there was the state of exceptionality, on the one hand; and, on the other hand, it was the only proposal. But if the time factor is going to be on the same terms as any other proposal, then it is definitely the possibility of opening the range and that they come in freedom of competences to determine the greatest benefit for the city”, said the mayor stay.

For now, the KAC has not made a public statement on the matter. (I)