In Search Of El Dorado

Colombia has said the concession for Bogotá’s international airport, El Dorado, will not now be awarded until August 28 instead of August 18, as originally planned. The delay is so that Aerocivil, Colombia’s civil aviation authority in charge of the bidding process, can reevaluation documents presented by three bidders that were disqualified in the last bidding round. These are: Corporación América, Siemens together with Colpatria, and Stratis. The winner will be awarded a 20-year concession to run El Dorado and will be expected to invest around $650 million to modernize the country’s largest airport. Earlier this month, Aerocivil extended the bidding process for a concession to operate airports on San Andrés and Providencia islands to allow participating companies, some of which are also bidding for El Dorado, more time to prepare documentation.