New ACI Global Guidelines for Private Sector Participation in Airports

Kevin Rozario

London

November 5, 2025

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mod ACI Airport Devel Concession Agreements

Airports association, Airports Council International World, and ACI Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), have released new guidelines on private-sector involvement at airports for concessionaires, investors, lenders, advisors, governments, and grantors.

The free-to-access paper—Airport Development Concessions Agreements: Global Approaches and Guidelines for Public-Private Partnerships—offers clear and practical guidance on implementing well-structured PPPs, informed by evidence-based analysis and global consultation.

The study is the result of the combined expertise and cooperation of many participants, including global engineering, management, and development consultancy Mott MacDonald and strategic investment advisory and professional services firm Modalis Infrastructure Partners, the owner of airportIR.

Today, more than 850 airports in over 90 countries have private-sector participation, and investment continues to expand, with 132 transactions at various stages in the global pipeline as of January 2025.

Concessioning of airport assets has become widely used to finance long-term infrastructure and deliver major operational improvements across most regions, underscoring a need for clear, globally informed guidance.

ACI World Director General Justin Erbacci commented: “Airports are vital to connectivity, trade, and social and economic development—and as (travel) demand grows, governments face real fiscal constraints to provide the necessary, efficient, and sustainable infrastructure required.

“Well-structured PPPs and concessions can mobilize investment, improve efficiency, and deliver world-class infrastructure, while safeguarding the public interest. ACI remains neutral on ownership choices; what matters is transparent governance, balanced risk allocation, and long-term value for passengers and communities.”

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© ACI World

A Clear, Practical Framework

At ACI Latin America and the Caribbean, Director General Dr. Rafael Echevarne added: “These guidelines are built on decades of experience across our region and beyond. They offer governments and investors a clear, practical framework to structure airport partnerships that are transparent, resilient, and focused on long-term value for passengers, communities, and economies.”

The new guidelines are comprehensive and cover the following:

  • State of the airport development concessions industry

  • How to prepare, negotiate, and manage airport development concession agreements, from feasibility to execution

  • Risk identification and allocation frameworks for financial, operational, and demand risks

  • Model clauses and templates for transparent, balanced partnerships

  • Best practices in governance, performance monitoring, and dispute resolution

  • Global case studies showcasing airport development concession models and lessons learned

  • Guidance on sustainability and community value in airport development.

The guide’s release is timely as more airports look at PPPs to support their growth. It acts as both a practical toolkit and a policy compass for the future of airport development. In particular, airport operators should learn how to strengthen their financial resilience through smarter partnerships; enhance transparency and long-term stakeholder alignment; and reduce risk while driving sustainable growth.

The launch took place at the 2025 ACI North America (ACI-NA) & ACI World Annual General Assembly in Toronto, hosted by Toronto Pearson Airport, with Billy Bishop City Airport as a supporting host. Bringing together over 2,300 delegates, the event is the most important global gathering of airport leaders in the airline calendar.

To order the free guide, click here.