New global guidelines for airport development
- Airports Council International (ACI) issues global guidance on public-private partnerships at airports: ACI (World and Latin America/Caribbean) has published Airport Development Concession Agreements: Global Approaches and Guidelines to provide practical frameworks for regulating private sector participation in airports.
- The growing role of concessions: More than 850 airports in more than 90 countries are now involved in private sector engagement, with 132 deals in the pipeline globally (as of January 2025), highlighting the need for transparent governance, balanced risk allocation, and long-term value creation.
- Guidelines focus: These guidelines cover feasibility, negotiation, risk allocation, governance, conflict resolution, sustainability, and community value, and aim to enhance financial resilience, enhance transparency, and support sustainable growth of airports.
Amid record growth in air travel, Airports Council International (ACI) Global and Airports Council International Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) today released Airport Development Concession Agreements: Global Approaches and Guidelines for Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). This resource provides clear and practical guidance on structuring and implementing private sector engagement in airports for concessionaires, investors, lenders, advisors, governments and donors.
Today, the private sector is involved in more than 850 airports in more than 90 countries, and investment continues to expand, with 132 deals at various stages in the global pipeline as of January 2025. Increasingly, airport asset franchising has become a widely used model for financing long-term infrastructure and delivering significant operational improvements in most regions – underscoring the need for clear, globally informed guidance.
“Airports are vital to connectivity, trade and social and economic development – and as demand grows, governments face real financial constraints to provide the necessary, efficient and sustainable infrastructure needed to meet this demand,” said Justin Erbachi, Global Director General of Airports Council International. “Well-structured public-private partnerships and concessions can mobilize investment, improve efficiency, and provide world-class infrastructure, while protecting the public interest. ACI remains neutral on ownership choices; what matters is transparent governance, balanced allocation of risk, and long-term value for travelers and communities.”
“These guidelines are based on decades of experience across our region and beyond,” said ACI Director General for Latin America and the Caribbean Dr. Rafael Echevarn. “It provides governments and investors with a clear and practical framework for organizing airport partnerships that is transparent, flexible and focused on long-term value for travellers, communities and economies.”
What the guidelines cover
- State of the airport development concessions industry
- Comprehensive guidance for preparing, negotiating and managing airport development concession agreements – from feasibility to implementation
- Risk identification and allocation frameworks for financial, operational and demand risks
- Model clauses and models for transparent and balanced partnerships
- Best practices in governance, performance monitoring and conflict resolution
- Global case studies showcasing airport development concession models and lessons learned
- Guidance on sustainability and societal value in airport development
Why does it matter now?
- Enhancing financial resilience through smarter partnerships
- Promotes transparency and alignment among stakeholders over the long term
- Reduces risk while driving sustainable growth
The launch took place today at the 2025 ACI North America (ACI-NA) Annual General Assembly Conference and Exhibition in Toronto – hosted by Toronto Pearson International Airport, with Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport as supporting host. Bringing together more than 2,300 delegates, the event is the world’s most important gathering of airport leaders and provides a platform to unveil the publication, which was developed in collaboration with Mott MacDonald and Modalis Infrastructure Partners Inc.
