By Brazil Stock Guide – Spanish airport operator Aena S.M.E. SA (BME:AENA) announced on Monday (27) a two-phase plan to turn Recife International Airport (PE) into a logistics and services hub, reinforcing its long-term strategy in Brazil’s infrastructure sector.
The announcement, reported by Agência iNFRA, detailed a Real Estate Development Plan and a new Intermodal Terminal project. The initiatives are designed to drive economic growth, enhance connectivity, and attract investment to Pernambuco’s capital, one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the country.
“Airports must be living spaces that drive development, connect people, and add value to the city around them,” said Santiago Yus, CEO of Aena Brasil, during the launch. “Delivering modern infrastructure within a more integrated and sustainable environment is essential to achieving that goal.”
Redevelopment plan and investment outlook
Aena’s Real Estate Development Plan, worth about R$580 million ($110 million), will convert 543,000 square meters of underused airport land into logistics centers, commercial areas, and hospitality spaces. The investment will come from partnerships with logistics and real estate operators.
According to Yus, the Recife model will serve as a blueprint for other Aena airports in Brazil, with expansion plans already under study for Aracaju (SE), Maceió (AL), and João Pessoa (PB).
The company aims to position Recife as a strategic logistics hub in the Northeast, integrating air cargo, passenger transport, and urban infrastructure.
Terminal Intermodal: new transport hub
The Intermodal Terminal, estimated at R$60 million ($11 million), will act as a multi-use transportation and social hub connecting airport services with the city’s urban mobility system. Construction is scheduled to begin in Q2 2026, with completion expected by late 2027.
The terminal will centralize ride-hailing, tourist vans, and intercity buses, while offering shops, cafés, accessible restrooms, and art exhibitions. In collaboration with Recife’s municipal government, the project will also revitalize Salgado Filho Square and include a bike lane network linking the terminal to nearby neighborhoods.
Aena’s Q3 results and Brazil growth strategy
In its third-quarter 2025 earnings report, Aena posted a 6.8% year-over-year increase in EBITDA and a 12% rise in passenger traffic across its Latin American operations. Brazil was one of the company’s strongest performers, driven by post-pandemic tourism growth and higher air cargo demand.
The operator reaffirmed its focus on long-term concessions and sustainable airport design as part of its international growth plan, with Brazil positioned as a key market for expansion in the Americas.
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