23 May 2003

Bombardier announces sale of Belfast City Airport

Bombardier Aerospace has today announced the sale of Belfast City Airport to Spanish construction firm Ferrovial for £35 million.

Juan Bejar, General Manager of Ferrovial’s infrastructure division said the acquisition was "a further opportunity for growth in a strategic business area".

He added: “We are strengthening our position in the infrastructure concession business in the UK and our position in airport management worldwide, to total 13 airports in Australia, the UK, Mexico and Chile, with a throughput of more than 41 million passengers per year.”

Luis Sánchez Salmerón, Head of Ferrovial’s airports division, said: “As well as the superb location, facilities in good condition and a profitable operation, Belfast City Airport has scope to increase revenues from aeronautics and non-aeronautic sources by developing the airport’s commercial activities.”

Ferrovial partly owns and manages Bristol Airport, its only other UK airport, which handles 3.5 million passengers per year.

Approximately 1.8 million passengers are expected to use Belfast City airport this year.

Around 360 people are directly employed by the airport with a further 450 airline and other staff based there.

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