As global air travel reaches record levels, Airports Council International (ACI) World, in collaboration with ACI Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), has launched a new resource, Airport Development Concessions Agreements: Global Approaches and Guidelines for Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
The comprehensive guide provides practical direction for structuring and implementing private-sector involvement in airport development. It is designed to support concessionaires, investors, lenders, advisors, governments, and grantors in building efficient, transparent, and sustainable partnerships.
Today, more than 850 airports across 90 countries operate with some level of private-sector participation, and that number continues to grow. As of January 2025, there are 132 airport transactions in various stages of development worldwide. With concessioning now a proven model for financing and upgrading airport infrastructure, the publication offers much-needed clarity on best practices for governance, investment, and long-term public value.
“Airports are vital to connectivity, trade, and economic development, but as demand grows, governments face real fiscal limits in providing the infrastructure needed,” said Justin Erbacci, Director General of ACI World. “Well-structured public-private partnerships can mobilize investment, improve efficiency, and deliver world-class infrastructure, while protecting the public interest. What matters most is transparent governance, balanced risk allocation, and long-term value for passengers and communities.”
ACI LAC Director General Dr. Rafael Echevarne added, “These guidelines draw from decades of regional and global experience. They give governments and investors a clear, practical framework for building airport partnerships that are transparent, resilient, and focused on sustainable value for economies and communities.”
The new guidelines cover:
- The current state of the global airport concessions industry
- Step-by-step guidance on preparing, negotiating, and managing airport development concession agreements — from feasibility to execution
- Frameworks for identifying and allocating financial, operational, and demand-related risks
- Model clauses and templates to promote transparent, balanced partnerships
- Best practices in governance, performance monitoring, and dispute resolution
- Global case studies illustrating successful airport concession models
- Guidance on sustainability and community value integration
The publication comes at a pivotal time for the aviation sector, providing a blueprint for smarter partnerships that enhance financial resilience, improve transparency, reduce risk, and drive sustainable growth.
The official launch took place at the 2025 ACI North America & ACI World Annual General Assembly, Conference and Exhibition in Toronto, hosted by Toronto Pearson International Airport with Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport as supporting host. The event, which drew over 2,300 delegates, served as the ideal platform to unveil the guidelines, developed in collaboration with Mott MacDonald and Modalis Infrastructure Partners Inc.
With air travel demand accelerating globally, ACI’s new framework aims to help the aviation industry navigate expansion responsibly — ensuring airports worldwide grow stronger, smarter, and more sustainably.
