Airport concession has been a trend from the 1980s of the 20th century, but our region has just begun to introduce it. Therefore, we decided to conduct a research and find out more about the current situation on the global and European market as well.
On a global level, 14% of airports today have been partially or fully owned by private companies, while Europe stands at 50%, says the report of the Airport Council International (ACI), the only professional organization encompassing airports’ operators on a global level. 3 out of 4 European passengers use some of the airports run by the private company, writes Dnevne Novine, a daily.
This trend primarily includes some of the world’s largest and busiest airports. There are two reasons for the rapid growth of private ownership of airports:
- Govts and the airports use money of the private sector in order to develop capacities;
- Private companies like to hear about the increase in total passenger traffic, thus generating substantial revenues.
The ACI also signals that over the past 5 years privatized airports have had 14% more capital investments compared to those managed by the state. Additionally, financial indicators of European airports, half of which operate on the basis of public-private partnership, have been enhanced since 2011.
And now it’s Montenegro turn to introduce this long-lasting trend.
We should not neglect the fact the Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs, before defining the concession act, organized a public debate, a practice we don’t see very often when it comes to many other significant matters. Public debate has been perceived as an opportunity for getting extra inputs and knowledge, and a basis for drafting a document that will protect the interests of citizens and the state.
