Taipei Songshan Airport

Despite European economic woes, Portugal and Germany focus on LCC airports

With much of the world – and especially Europe – still embroiled in recession or economic slowdown and with a lengthy and growing list of failing new airports in Spain (Ciudad Real, Castellon, Lleida, Huesca, Badajoz etc) and failing existing ones in the UK (Plymouth, Coventry, Durham), this would hardly appear to be the time to open or commence construction on a new one, outside of the major metropolitan areas.

But that is exactly what has happened at Beja in Portugal, which has been designated a ‘LCC base’ - and what will happen at Kassel in Germany by 2013.

GMR Infra looks international for airport business growth. 1Q losses on Delhi and Istanbul

As part of efforts to become a global player in the airport sector, India’s GMR Infrastructure is seeking to expand its international footprint beyond its Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen and Male presence. GMR, which also operates Delhi and Hyderabad airports, two of India's largest airports, is looking at projects in countries ranging from Spain and Croatia in Europe to Puerto Rico and North America in the Americas, in addition to airports in Southeast Asia and Africa. The company’s airport segment, meanwhile, reported a loss in the three months to Jun-2011, although its Male and Hyderabad airports were profitable. All GMR’s airports were profitable at the EBITDA level in the quarter, with robust traffic growth across the board.

Pakistan International Airlines in precarious situation as losses continue

Pakistan’s aviation industry has struggled in recent years due in large part to the poor performance of national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), which continues to be supported by majority owner, the Pakistan Government, as the carrier’s losses continue to flow.

Colombia sits atop airport investment prospects in CIVETS countries

The latest trendy acronym after BRIC and N11 is CIVETS; a gaggle of widely dispersed countries (Colombia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey and South Africa) that are all dynamic and diverse emerging economies with inflation under control and sophisticated financial systems with an absence of "sovereign debt bombs".

Milan's SEA airport operator to list in Oct-2011. Privatisation second time lucky?

The Milan airport operator, SEA, aims to list its shares on the Italian stock exchange towards the end of Oct-2011 according to reports in Italy, adding to Italy's register of listed airport operators. SEA, which operates the busier Malpensa Airport and the Linate Airport close to downtown, will issue fresh capital for its initial public offering.