CaribPR Wire

LONDON and GUADALAJARA, Mexico, Feb. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – With ambitions to create the ‘best airport in Mexico’ at its home base in Guadalajara, Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico (GAP) plans to invest 10 billion Pesos (US$504m* see note) before 2026 in the development of Guadalajara Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport.  The plan includes an additional runway and new terminal building as well as, in the short/mid-term, a radical new 6 billion Pesos (US$302m* see note) redesign of the commercial space in the existing building.  The Design Solution has been appointed to deliver the redesign with the new space due to open on a phased basis over the next 2 years before being fully open in 2023.

The current terminal has benefited from numerous expansion projects since its opening in 1966 and today is a collection of airside zones, complex circulation patterns and architectural styles.  The objective of the terminal redesign is to rationalise passenger flows, creating a series of engaging touchpoints along the passenger journey, from security to gate, with a visionary design that unifies the entire experience.  The Design Solution has worked alongside the project’s commercial consultants, Pragma Consulting, in fulfilling the approved proposal.

The new plan optimises previously under-utilized space, creating a new vibrancy to the passenger experience with a significantly enlarged commercial zone.   The two security areas are retained and passengers are now drawn towards the airside heart of the terminal, a newly revitalised area overlooking the apron, surrounded by a dynamic mix of retail, bars, restaurants, pop-up sites and other customer service facilities.

“Our first task was to rationalise the passenger flows through the terminal to create an intuitive route in the airside commercial area.  With this approach, passengers have much more direct engagement with the greater exposure given to stores, restaurants, bars, pop-ups and seasonal event experiences” explains Graeme Johns, Director of the Design Solution. “It is always a challenge to transform older terminals that have evolved through piecemeal development, especially those that were predominantly assembled before commercial revenues became so important.  These new designs will create a world class facility and passenger experience fitting for GAP’s ambitions to transform Guadalajara International Airport and to maximise its commercial potential.”

“Mexico is so rich in history, culture, craft and unique landscapes and so finding a special feature to tie the designs together was not difficult.  Guadalajara is the heart of the Tequila and we were inspired by the shape of the harvested Agave plant used in the production of this iconic spirt, which is also one of the fastest growing categories in travel retail.  Its unique form is evident throughout the decoration of the terminal, such as the decorative lighting grilles featured in the main walkways and in the food & beverage area.”

Raul Revuelta, Chief Executive Officer, Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico adds. “We first worked with The Design Solution at Sangster Montego Bay Airport in Jamaica, one of our other operated airports.  Shortly after, we appointed them to work at Los Cabos airport in Mexico and now on to Guadalajara.  We have worked together as a team over many months to create something we believe will transform the terminal, both in terms of bringing passengers the best travel experience as well as growing our commercial offer. In the core airside commercial area, we currently have 5,700 sq m and that will increase to 7,250 sq m.  The pandemic inevitably means the implementation of our ambitious plans will likely take longer than originally hoped but we look forward to a phased approach to achieving this vision.”

A key area of the redesign is centred on a flat roof canopy, located outside the centre of the terminal building, over an expanded baggage area.  The proposal is to transform this into a signature feature of the terminal, with an external garden terrace, surrounding an Agave-inspired architectural shade pod, offering casual seating, planting and a unique eating and drinking destination.  The ambience of this garden has also inspired the character of the indoor food & beverage zone and is further reflected in the outside feel that is brought inside to the gate seating areas. Heavily planted areas include trees to complement the minimalistic concrete benches with low level under-lighting, combining to create a light, contemporary and natural landscape look and feel. The exterior aesthetic is further enhanced with the application of resin-bound aggregate floor finishes and warm natural materials.

A large rotunda space is introduced directly after the wall-through duty free store, enabling passengers to pause, orientate themselves, check flight information and then plan how to spend their time before heading to the gate.  A large aura formation of pendant lights, made from Peltra, a Mexican porcelain enamel, designed by local contemporary design agency Bandido Studio in Puebla, is suspended within the space, creating a striking statement with a strongly local sense of place.

Beside agave cultivation, Tequila and Mezcal production, Guadalajara is home to Mexico’s thriving software industry, known worldwide as Mexico’s Silicon Valley.  The airport is the country’s third largest airport, handling almost 15m passengers in 2019.  The new development will increase capacity to 30m passengers per year, an increase of 60% more flights.  Pre-pandemic passenger growth was double-digit and the airport anticipates a return to growth in due course. ENDS

Note: US$ amounts quoted in 1^st paragraph are approximate due to US dollar exchange rate on the date of publication and also according to the peso exchange rate on the date of investment approval.

NOTES TO EDITORS

About The Design Solution

The Design Solution is a London based retail architecture and design practice with a strong specialism in the $70bn+ travel retail industry.  The practice has over 30 years’ experience in developing world-class retail solutions for airports, rail, motorways and other retail destinations all over the world together with compelling merchandising and experiential designs for brands.

About Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, S.A.B. of C.V. (GAP) is a Mexican company that develops its activity in the airport sector. GAP operates 12 international airports in Mexico and two in Jamaica, serving more than 330 destinations, through 35 airlines. Its shares are listed on the stock exchanges of Mexico and New York.

In 2020, GAP served 27.3 million passengers, achieving a 56% recovery compared to those served in 2019 (48.7 million passengers).

The airports managed by Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico are located at:

• Guadalajara and Tijuana, serving the main metropolitan areas.
• Mexicali, Hermosillo, Los Mochis, Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, and Morelia, serving medium-sized developing cities.
• La Paz, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo and Montego Bay, serving some of the most important tourist destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean.
• On October 10, 2018, GAP signed the concession contract with the government of Jamaica to operate, modernize and expand the Norman Manley International Airport (”KIN”) located in the city of Kingston.

The airports managed by GAP in Mexico are owned by the Mexican government and have been allocated in a 50-year concession starting in 1998, as part of a domestic initiative to privatize and improve the quality and security of the country’s airport services.

In Jamaica, the government owns the Montego Bay Airport and the concession granted for its operation is for a 30-year period, which will conclude on April 2033. The Kingston Airport was granted for a 25-year concession. GAP took control of the operation and administration this past October 2019.

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico believes in the value of each individual and seeks to trigger his or her potential through education. Better-educated Mexicans will raise their quality of life and contribute towards the country’s development. GAP, in line with its business model and through its Foundation, is committed to be a factor of change. We work on two strategic pillars: work with the community, through the GAP Schools, and on training the airport community, with Community Training Centers.

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Leading NYC-based boutique financial advisory brings three decades of experience providing innovative solutions for the Caribbean’s
most pressing infrastructure challenges

CaribPR Wire, New York, NY , Mon. November 30, 2020: Standard International Group, a leading New York City-based boutique financial advisory firm with a focus on revitalizing critical infrastructure projects across the U.S. Municipal, Caribbean, and West Africa, announced the completion of $193M in financing for St. Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIAE) Terminal Reconstruction. André Wright, Executive Vice President of Standard International Group, made the announcement.

On behalf of St. Maarten and Princess Juliana International Airport, Mr. Wright advised on the $50M loan from The European Investment Bank (EIB) and $50M grant from The World Bank, for a total of $100M in investment capital combined with $22M from the Government of St. Maarten in the form of liquidity support. Mr. Wright also ensured the project received a maximum insurance claim payout of $71M by introducing Willis Towers Watson to serve as insurance advisory services provider.

Princess Juliana International Airport is among the busiest airports in the North Eastern Caribbean, serving St. Maarten, St. Martin, Saba, St. Eustatius, Anguilla, and St Barthélemy and is the engine of St. Maarten’s economy, serving over 1.8 million passengers and employing over 1,000 local residents each year.

Following the destruction from hurricane Irma, Princess Juliana International Airport required massive remediation and reconstruction. Standard International Group provided end-to-end advisory, from creating the financial models, structuring the plan of finance, liaising with current bondholders and providing rating agency advisory, with a vision of success and prosperity for this important project. The new airport design will feature security improvements and is expected to surpass its past performance. Terminal reconstruction is slated to commence in 2021.

For over 20 years, Standard International Group has worked collaboratively with St. Maarten leadership to create transformative solutions that improve the bottom line and local economy. During this period, Standard International Group has provided financial advisory for a variety of infrastructure advancements, including the original Princess Juliana International Airport transaction (2004), several financial advisory and capital raises for the St. Maarten electricity company (GEBE), cruise port facilities, shopping and real estate development, and other projects. With a long history of working with government leadership and multiple investment teams, Standard International Group was able to successfully complete these projects and ensure positive results for all stakeholders.

“Investing in better infrastructure, solutions for climate change and the wellbeing of local communities is a major priority across the Caribbean, but it is often a difficult process,” stated Mr. Wright. “Standard International Group specializes in securing financing for complex infrastructure projects, creating win-win situations for investors as well as communities.”
About Standard International Group

Standard International Group is an independent financial advisory boutique that emphasizes service and innovation. Founded by André Wright in 1996, Standard International Group focuses on revitalizing critical infrastructure projects across the U.S. Municipal, Caribbean, and West Africa. Mr. Wright brings a decade of Wall Street experience and over thirty years of financial advisory and investment banking expertise to some of these regions’ most pressing infrastructure problems. Standard International Group does business where others either cannot or are not willing to go. The firm’s financial advisory services are built around comprehensive financial and credit analysis, local knowledge and industry expertise with a focus on creating transformative solutions and successful outcomes. Standard International Group creates and shares opportunities with global investors, delivers debt and equity capital to sovereign and municipal governments and corporations, all while emphasizing the importance of positive results on a local level. For more information, please visit www.sig-usa.com.—

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GUADALAJARA, Mexico, Sept. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ – Airports Council International (ACI) is pleased to announce the accreditation of all the airports that are part of Grupo AeroportuarIo del Pacífico (GAP) in the ACI Airport Health Accreditation (AHA) programme. GAP becomes the first airport group in the world to successfully accredit all its airports in the AHA program.

ACI’s Airport Health Accreditation programme supports airports assessing the new health measures and procedures introduced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in accordance with ICAO Council Aviation Restart Task Force (CART) recommendations and in alignment with the joint EASA and ECDC Aviation Health Safety Protocol.

The AHA program recognizes airports’ commitment to the safety of passengers, airport employees, and the general public. All passenger areas and processes are considered including terminal access, check-in areas, security screening, boarding gates, lounges, retail, food and beverages, gate equipment such as boarding bridges, escalators and elevators, border control areas and facilities (in collaboration with authorities), baggage claim area and arrivals exit.

“Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico reaffirms its commitment to the health and safety of passengers and employees by accrediting the 14 airports of the group (12 in México and 2 in Jamaica) in the ACI Accreditation of Sanitary Measures (AHA) program. GAP becomes the first Airport Group in the world to demonstrate that all its airports have successfully implemented their health measures in accordance with the recommendations of the ICAO CART and aligned with the best practices of the industry”, said Rafael Echevarne, Director General of ACI-LAC.

“Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico’s priority is to give its passengers a safe and pleasant travel experience. As proof of this is the present accreditation, which keeps us in the leadership of health security at an international level, applying the best protocols and measures in all our airports”, added Raúl Revuelta, CEO of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico.

About ACI
Airports Council International (ACI) is the international airport organization, with 1,960 airports in 176 countries. The Latin American and Caribbean office (ACI-LAC) has 270 airports in 34 countries that manage 95% of air traffic in the region.

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, S.A.B. of C.V. (GAP) is a Mexican company that develops its activity in the airport sector. GAP operates 12 international airports in Mexico and two in Jamaica, serving more than 300 destinations, through 35 airlines. Its shares are listed on the stock exchanges of Mexico and New York.

In 2019, GAP served 48.7 million passengers, 8.4% more than in 2018.

The airports managed by Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico are located at:

• Guadalajara and Tijuana, serving the main metropolitan areas.
• Mexicali, Hermosillo, Los Mochis, Aguascalientes, Guanajuato and Morelia, serving medium-sized developing cities.
• La Paz, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo and Montego Bay, serving some of the most important tourist destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean.
• On October 10, 2018, GAP signed the concession contract with the government of Jamaica in order to operate, modernize and expand the Norman Manley International Airport (”KIN”) located in the city of Kingston.

The airports managed by GAP in Mexico are owned by the Mexican government and have been allocated in a 50-year concession starting in 1998, as part of a domestic initiative to privatize and improve the quality and security of the country’s airport services.

In Jamaica, the government owns the Montego Bay Airport and the concession granted for its operation is for a 30-year period, which will conclude on April 2033. The Kingston Airport was granted for a 25-year concession. GAP took control of the operation and administration this past October 2019.

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico believes in the value of each individual and seeks to trigger his or her potential through education. Better-educated Mexicans will raise their quality of life and contribute towards the country’s development. GAP, in line with its business model and through its Foundation, is committed to be a factor of change. We work on two strategic pillars: work with the community, through the GAP Schools, and on training the airport community, with Community Training Centers.

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