- Ferrovial is diversifying its airport portfolio as it continues to explore growth opportunities.
- YDA Group is one of Turkey’s largest infrastructure groups
- Located on the Turkish Riviera, the airport handled 5 million passengers, most of them international.
Ferrovial, through its Airports division, has reached an agreement with Turkish infrastructure company YDA Group to acquire a 60% stake in the company that manages the Dalaman International Airport concession, in Turkey, for €140 million. YDA Group, which has been operating the asset since 2006 and will retain a 40% stake, has undertaken major upgrades to the facilities. Completion of the deal is contingent upon the customary approvals for this type of transaction, including clearance from the Turkish authorities. It is expected to be completed in the first half of 2022.
YDA Group was awarded a 26-year concession to operate the airport in 2014, and that was subsequently extended to 2042. The concession agreement included the construction of a new international terminal that came into service in 2018. Under the concession agreement, fees per passenger are set and collected in euro, with the result that the bulk of the airport’s revenues are in that currency.
“This is a unique opportunity to diversify our airport portfolio in an area that has become a fast-growing destination in Turkey for international tourism,” said Luke Bugeja, CEO of Ferrovial Airports. “YDA Group has extensive experience with building and operating infrastructures under the P3 formula in Turkey, making it the ideal partner for this project. Ferrovial continues to advance without losing sight of opportunities in our strategic markets.”
“We are delighted to welcome Ferrovial as a partner. This strategic alliance represents a unique opportunity to bring together the combined expertise of both companies in the Turkish aviation sector,” said Hüseyin Arslan, Chairman of YDA Group. “The synergies derived from our geographic complementarity will connect our customers to new destinations, while offering significant growth potential for both Dalaman and other markets. We are convinced that this partnership between two groups with a global presence in the aviation business will further contribute to our success.”
The Turkish Riviera
Dalaman Airport is located on the Turkish Riviera, one of the most attractive tourist areas in Turkey and the Mediterranean, with numerous cultural, sports and leisure facilities. Before the pandemic, it was handling 5 million passengers per year, most of them international, having increased by 78% since 2006, and it ranks fourth in Turkey in terms of international passenger numbers.
The airport has two terminals, one domestic and one international, with capacity for over 20 million passengers per year, an apron for over 40 aircraft, parking space for cars and tour operator buses, and ancillary facilities such as a water treatment plant. It also plans to build a renewable power plant, which will make it one of the most sustainable and environmentally friendly projects in Turkey.
