Belo Horizonte Tancredo Neves International Airport's future lies with its Airport City/Aerotropolis

In the year in which Brazil is hosting the Olympic Games, two years after a successful (except for the Brazilian national soccer team) FIFA Soccer World Cup, the country is in the headlines for the wrong reasons: namely Zika the mosquito-borne sickness rather than Zico the footballer. But whatever the outcome of that, the Brazilian authorities have committed time, energy and determination to improving transport infrastructure, especially the airports. They are in the midst of an airport privatisation programme that is now in its third stage.

The auction of Belo Horizonte Tancredo Neves International Airport - in the home city of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff - came during the second stage, although Brazil's difficult economic situation may mean it is still too early to be able to draw conclusions on its success or otherwise.

Belo Horizonte offers some advantages to its investors, but several disadvantages too. One of those advantages is the development there of Brazil's first airport city and associated 'aerotropolis.'

This report looks at present and future growth trends at the airport, local airport statistics, how the airport matches up to its peers across a range of metrics, at construction activities, and at its new ownership. It concludes that the airport's future is inextricably linked to the continuing development of its airport city.