Singapore’s Changi Airport plans to invest up to US$700 million in 15 small regional airports, mainly in Asia, in the next three to five years. It has also indicated that it will dispose of stakes inseveral Latin American operations.
Chow Kok Fong, the chief executive of Changi Airports International (CAI) said the airport is looking at regional airports that have international traffic and hub potential. He said a substantial part of the acquisitions would be in China because CAI already has experience in the country by providing consultancy services there to airports in Qingdao, Baiyun, Chengdu and Fuzhou.
CAI made its first direct investment in China last month, taking a 29 per cent stake in Nanjing Lukou International Airport for US$138 million.
CAI has invested in airports in Costa Rica, the Netherlands Antilles and Peru in a joint venture with the Bechtel Group, the US construction company, but the two plan to dispose of the Latin American assets. Chow said the airport has decided to dispose of these investments and begin direct foreign investments.
CAI is also looking for opportunities in India, Russia and central Europe to take advantage of ongoing privatisation of airports.