Slovakia will lease M. R. Štefánik Airport in Bratislava for a period of 30 years, Transport Minister Ján Figeľ said after a government session on Wednesday, March 16. He added that the process – including the choice of a suitable consultant with international experience, as well as the tender to find a concessionaire – should be terminated by June 2012.
Figeľ is due to submit a comprehensive, detailed plan to be dealt with by the government before the end of April. From the outset, the Transport Ministry wanted the airport to be leased to a private contractor for a maximum of 30 years, but the Finance Ministry later suggested a term of 40-50 years. "A shorter rental period would reduce the investor's motivation to invest in the airport's development," the Finance Ministry argued, as quoted by the TASR newswire.
A recent analysis used by the Transport Ministry stated that Bratislava Airport’s necessary investment needs are expected to reach at least €350 million. These needs include the reconstruction and extension of the runway, an increase in the amount of space for planes in front of the terminals, and other modifications.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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