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Colombia: Cali Airport Prepares for $5 Trillion COP Transformation to Double Operational Capacity

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The expansion and modernization project for Cali’s airport is moving steadily forward as one of the most strategic infrastructure initiatives for Valle del Cauca and southwestern Colombia. With an estimated investment of nearly $5 trillion COP, the proposal aims to transform the terminal’s operational capacity and prepare it to handle sustained growth in air traffic over the coming decades.

Infrastructure Expansion and Operational Leap

The air terminal currently handles around seven million passengers per year. However, the modernization blueprint is designed to deliver a large-scale upgrade, projecting a future capacity of between 16 and 17 million passengers annually.

To support this surge in passenger flow and commercial flights, the project outlines deep interventions across both airside and landside infrastructure:

According to projections from the National Infrastructure Agency (ANI), these upgrades will significantly optimize the airport’s turnaround and response times. Consequently, the terminal will scale up from its current rate of approximately 18 aircraft movements per hour to a potential capacity of up to 28 operations per hour, substantially increasing its ability to service domestic and international flights.

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Corporate Alliance and Contractual Structuring

The consortium for the development and execution of the project was submitted by AENA Desarrollo Internacional—a global corporation with extensive experience in airport terminal management—in partnership with CFC Energy Holding, an investment vehicle tied to Corficolombiana and Grupo Aval. Both organizations are vying for a concession agreement that spans a 30-year operational term.

In the current phase, ANI’s Vice President of Structuring, Julian Rueda, explained that technical roundtables are underway with various national government entities to solidify the financial, legal, and operational frameworks of the future concession. This process is being executed in coordination with the Ministry of Finance, the National Department of Planning, and the Ministry of Transport. The authorities’ primary objective is to secure the necessary approvals before the end of the first half of the year to maintain the project’s scheduled timeline.

Timeline and Key Bidding Dates

The megaproject is undergoing technical review alongside the Civil Aeronautics Authority (Aerocivil). During this period, the precise contractual, operational, and technical obligations to be assumed by the concessionaire are being fine-tuned, clearly defining its responsibilities versus the functions that will remain under the control of the aviation authority. Critical areas under review include airport operations, air traffic control (ATC) coordination, and the maintenance of specialized infrastructure.

According to the preliminary schedule released by ANI, the key milestones for the bidding process are structured as follows:

Regional Connectivity Outlook

The execution of this modernization plan will expand the passenger terminal and robustly reinforce complementary services. Furthermore, it will directly safeguard and boost the connectivity of Cali, Palmira, and other municipalities in the Pacific region with international destinations worldwide.

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