More than 10 groups are preparing to deliver detailed proposals to acquire a 41.33% stake in SAGAT, which runs Turin Caselle Airport. The identity of the bidders has not been disclosed, but sources suggest they include the main Italian airport operators, such as Milan and Rome, along with some private groups like Hermes (the group formed by Benetton, Pirelli, Caltagirone, San Paolo IMI Bank and RAS insurance company). Several of the leading European airport operators are also said to be interested, including those of Frankfurt and Paris. Flight International's sister on-line service, Air Transport Intelligence, reports that construction has begun on a long-delayed $500 million third passenger terminal at Manila's congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Terminal 3 is expected to be completed in 2002 and will replace Terminal 1 as the airport's main building, able to handle around 13 million passengers annually. It is to be built on a 65Ha (160 acre) area of land at Villamor Air Base, and operated and maintained by Philippine International Air Terminals. San Francisco International Airport is to undertake a runway re-configuration programme to overcome flight delays and other major problems plaguing the airport. The airport has announced an offshore runway construction concept competition and is seeking requests for proposals from engineering and construction companies. The project could require an investment of up to $2.4 billion. Flughafen Frankfurt/Main (FAG) and Schiphol Group, the owner and operator of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, have agreed to form an alliance and to co-operate through joint business activities. In the near term, working groups will be formed over the next few weeks in ground handling and cargo, retail, property development, facility management, international projects, and IT development.
Source: Flight International
