Athens Airport Concession Deal to Be Finalized in Fall

The Greek government is set to complete concession talks for Athens International Airport (AIA) in September, assets agency head Stergios Pitsiorlas, said earlier this week.

Pitsiorlas, who is at the helm of TAIPED, Greece’s privatization agency, said negotiations with shareholders of AIA to extend a concession deal by 20 years are likely to be wrapped up by September. The deal foresees the extension by 20 years for the management and operation of AIA until 2046 by Germany-based AviaAlliance and Greek energy giant Copelouzos. The current lease expires in 2026.

Meanwhile, Reuters reports that Pitsiorlas also said TAIPED would be launching a tender for the 35-year lease of the Egnatia motorway in northern Greece this fall, relaunch a bid for rail maintenance firm ROSCO this week and is expecting expression of interest for a majority stake in the Thessaloniki Port Authority in October. According to media reports, there are currently five suitors.

Other privatizations on the agenda as agreed on with Greece’s international lenders include the sale of Greece public power corporation.