Mexico airport operator OMA to scale up with Vinci partnership (updated)

Grupo Aeroportuario Del Centro Norte SAB De CV

17/02/2023 19:54

(Updates with additional information from statement,
conference)
       MONTERREY, Mexico Feb 17 (Reuters) - Mexican airport
operator OMA  OMAB.MX  will scale up "to another level" thanks
to a tie-up with France's Vinci  SGEF.PA , OMA Chief Executive
Ricardo Duenas said in a release Friday.
    In December, French construction and concessions firm Vinci
bought an almost-30% stake in OMA for $820 million. The
partnership adds OMA to Vinci's network of more than 60 airports
in 12 countries, OMA said.
    While the deal is Vinci's first foothold into Mexico, Vinci
plans to support "growing demand for national and international
flights, especially to and from the United States," said Vinci
Concessions Chief Executive Nicolas Notebaert.
    Friday's announcement coincides with Notebaert's visit to
Monterrey, a sprawling business hub in north-east Mexico and the
country's second-largest city, whose international airport
represents about half of OMA's passenger traffic. 
        OMA said it would benefit from Vinci's experience in
operations, investment, project management and switching to
cleaner energies, and make it possible to renovate and expand
its airport infrastructure and grow its flights network.
 (Reporting by Daniel Becerril in Monterrey, Mexico and Kylie
Madry in Mexico City; Editing by Brendan O'Boyle and Sarah
Morland)
 ((Kylie.Madry@thomsonreuters.com;))