Galeão–Antônio Carlos Jobim International Airport in Rio de Janeiro was auctioned off on Monday (Mar. 30) for BRL 2.9 billion. The amount represents a 210.88 percent premium over the minimum bid of BRL 932 million set in the tender notice. The Spanish operator Aena submitted the highest bid in the auction.

In Brazil, Aena already controls 17 airports, including Congonhas in São Paulo, the country’s second-busiest airport. The winning bidder competed against two other companies: Zurich Airport, which operates four airports, and RIOgaleão, the airport’s current operator.

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The auction was decided after 26 rounds of bidding. In the first stage - the submission of sealed bids - Zurich Airport and Aena submitted identical bids of BRL 1.5 billion, surpassing RIOgaleão’s offer of BRL 934,045,874.00.

The winning concessionaire will assume full control of the airport. Brazilian Airport Infrastructure Company (Infraero), which currently holds a 49 percent stake in the operation, will exit the business. Under the auction rules, Aena must pay the Brazilian government an annual variable contribution equal to 20 percent of the concession’s gross revenue through 2039.

Galeão Airport is one of the main gateways for foreign tourists entering Brazil and also plays a key role in the domestic air network. In 2025, the terminal handled approximately 18 million passengers, representing 13 percent of the country’s air traffic.