KAC exporting its expertise internationally

The first half of 2021 has been a busy one for Korea Airports Corporation (KAC), which has quietly gone about expanding in the international arena by undertaking a feasibility study for an airport development project in Laos and been awarded the concession to operate and develop Manta Airport in Ecuador.

KAC – which in 2019 won the bid to oversee and manage the construction of Peru’s new Chinchero International Airport which is due to open in 2024 – is investigating the options for the expansion of Luang Prabang International Airport in Laos.

While in Ecuador it has signed a 30-year concession to manage and grow Manta Airport, which will become KAC’s first directly operated international airport as up until now it has only run 15 gateways in South Korea.

Manta is the largest port city in Ecuador, the self-proclaimed tuna capital of the world, and the nearest beach resort to the Galapagos Island, a world UNESCO World Heritage site.

KAC CEO, Chang-wan Son, said: “This project is significant as Korea successfully paved the way into the global market for overseas airport operation, predominated by other leading airport operators.

“We will make continued efforts to enter into new global markets by promoting our expertise in airport operations and outstanding smart airport technologies to contribute to G2G cooperation and economic development.”