Airplan

What Airplan does

Airplan S.A.S. is a Colombian airport operator and concessionaire founded in 2008 that holds a long-term concession contract (minimum term to 2032, maximum to 2048) to operate, administer, modernize, maintain, and commercially exploit six airports across the Antioquia, Córdoba, Sucre, and Chocó departments: Aeropuerto Internacional José María Córdova (Rionegro/MDE), Aeropuerto Olaya Herrera (Medellín/EOH), Aeropuerto Los Garzones (Montería/MTR), Aeropuerto Antonio Roldán Betancur (Carepa/APO), Aeropuerto Las Brujas (Corozal/CZU), and Centro de Servicios Aeropuerto de Quibdó (El Caraño/UIB). In 2024, MDE alone served 13.8 million passengers (10.04M domestic, 3.74M international) and the network recorded 235,426 flight operations. The company is majority-owned by Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste (ASUR), a publicly traded airport operator on the Bolsa Mexicana de Valores and the New York Stock Exchange, since October 2017.

The company's product surface combines physical airport operations with supporting digital services, including a flight information system (Salidas y Llegadas), a unified airport badge certification course, an operational hazard reporting system, online portals for airport fee collection (tasa.airplan.aero) and passenger complaints (PQRSF), and dedicated channels for commercial tenants and suppliers. Its underlying technology stack comprises a Safety Management System (SMS) for proactive risk identification, biometric migration equipment that lifted international departure capacity from 654 to 850 passengers per hour, automated baggage handling systems (BHS), and passenger processing kiosks. A $45.3 billion COP Airport Optimization Works project launched in April 2026 comprises 26 infrastructure interventions across public, national, international, and air-side zones, targeting a 17.5 million passenger-per-year capacity at MDE, with new boarding lounges, expanded check-in, biometric expansion, and upgraded baggage inspection.

Revenue is generated through five principal streams: mandatory airport fees charged to passengers (Tasa Aeroportuaria), commercial space rentals to airlines, retailers, restaurants, and service providers, parking operations with published tariffs, advertising and brand activation, and FBO services for private aviation. Notable commercial tenants include Avianca, LATAM Airlines, Easyfly, Grupo MERA Corporation (which invested $4.5 million USD in three restaurant concepts at MDE), and private aviation operators. Airplan sells through direct airport operations at six terminals, online self-service portals, and commercial tenant relationships, with marketing executed primarily through its corporate website, Facebook and YouTube channels, and earned media coverage.

Name

Airplan

Legal name

Airplan S.A.S.

Website

https://airplan.aero

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Airplan S.A.S. is a Colombian airport concessionaire operating six regional airports across Antioquia, Córdoba, Sucre, and Chocó under a long-term concession, majority-owned by ASUR since 2017. The company provides aeronautical operations, passenger processing, commercial real estate, and parking services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Airport Operations and Concession Services

NAICS

Airport Operations (48811), Other Airport Operations (488119)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581)

akta.pro primary industry

Ground Handling (Ramp, Baggage, Turnaround) (THABAIAC)

Keywords

• Airport operations management
• Concession airport services
• Aviation infrastructure
• Airport commercial services
• Passenger terminal services

Headquarters

HQ city

Rionegro

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Airport Concession Operations: Operate, administer, modernize, maintain, and commercially exploit 6 airports under concession contracts with EPAOH and Aerocivil/ANI, with minimum term until 2032 and maximum until 2048
2. Commercial Space Rentals: Revenue from renting commercial spaces, offices, warehouses, and hangars to airlines, retailers, restaurants, and service providers
3. Parking Services: Parking operations at all 6 airports with published tariff schedules including lost receipt fees of $25,000-$35,000
4. Advertising and Brand Activation: Advertising spaces and promotional events within airport terminals reaching business travelers, tourists, and local residents
5. Airport Fees (Tasa Aeroportuaria): Mandatory airport fees charged to passengers through online payment portal (tasa.airplan.aero)

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Airplan operates, administers, modernizes, maintains, and commercially exploits six Colombian airports — José María Córdova (Rionegro), Olaya Herrera (Medellín), Los Garzones (Montería), Antonio Roldán Betancur (Carepa), Las Brujas (Corozal), and El Caraño (Quibdó) — under concession contracts with the Colombian government. The company provides airport operations, passenger processing, safety management, commercial space rentals, parking, advertising, and airport identification/badging services to airlines, commercial tenants, and passengers.

Product overview

Airplan is a Colombian airport operator and concessionaire that operates six airports across Colombia: Aeropuerto Internacional José María Córdova (Rionegro), Aeropuerto Olaya Herrera (Medellín), Aeropuerto Los Garzones (Montería), Aeropuerto Antonio Roldán Betancur (Carepa), Aeropuerto Las Brujas (Corozal), and Aeropuerto El Caraño (Quibdó). The company offers a comprehensive suite of airport management services including flight information systems, operational safety management, parking services, commercial space rental, airport identification/badge systems, and passenger complaint handling. The core offering consists of airport operations and management supported by infrastructure projects for capacity optimization. Airplan is a subsidiary of Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste (ASUR), which became the majority shareholder in October 2017.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Airport Operations and Management Comprehensive operation, administration, modernization, maintenance, and commercial exploitation of six airports across Colombia, including passenger terminals, runways, commercial spaces, and support facilities. Under concession contracts with EPAOH and Aerocivil/ANI with minimum term until 2032 and maximum until 2048.
• Airport Parking Services Vehicle parking services at all six airport facilities with published tariff schedules, 24/7 availability, and regulations for users, employees, suppliers, and visitors. Lost receipt fees of $25,000 COP at MDE and $35,000 COP at EOH.
• Commercial Space Rental Leasing and subconcession services for commercial spaces, offices, warehouses, and hangars within airport facilities for airlines, retailers, restaurants, and service providers.
• Airport Commerce and Advertising Commercial space advertising opportunities targeting business travelers, trendsetters, residents, and tourists. Includes brand activation events, promotional stands, and FBO services for private aviation.
• Airport Identification System (Carnetización) Airport identification and badge issuance system for persons and vehicles operating within restricted airport areas, compliant with RAC 160 regulations.
• Unified Airport Badge Certification Course Training course for obtaining temporary or permanent airport identification badges, valid across all six airports with validity of two years for permanent or two months for temporary badges.
• Airport Fee Payment System (Tasa Aeroportuaria) Online system for paying mandatory airport fees charged to passengers, accessible at tasa.airplan.aero.
• Operational Safety Management System (SMS) Proactive Safety Management System for identifying hazards and risks associated with airport operations to prevent incidents and accidents affecting staff, users, clients, and equipment.
• Flight Information System (Salidas y Llegadas) Real-time flight tracking and information system providing scheduled flight details for departures and arrivals across all six operated airports.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced boarding times by approximately 25%
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Aeronáutica Civil de ColombiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2024Government aviation authority that is Airplan's concedente for airport operations, providing regulatory oversight and support for Safety Management System seminars.
• Universidad Pontificia BolivarianaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2024Academic partner collaborating with Airplan and Aeronáutica Civil to host the Third Operational Safety Seminar focusing on airport risk management.
• Grupo MERA CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2019Mexican restaurant group that invested $4.5 million USD to open Gaira Café, Burger Joint by Guy Fieri, and Petit Gourmet at Aeropuerto José María Córdova, expanding MERA's presence in Colombia.
• Magneto EmpleosminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployment portal partner providing Airplan's job posting and recruitment platform for potential candidates to apply for vacancies at Airplan airports.
• HDI SegurosminorOthersInsurance provider for Airplan's parking services (Póliza No. 4000040) and registered as gran contribuyente with Resolution 12220 of December 26, 2022.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste (ASUR): Airplan's parent company and one of the largest airport operators in Latin America, operating 16 airports across Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Colombia. Comparable as the principal shareholding entity and as a fully consolidated airport operator with a much larger asset base.
• AENA: Spain's state-owned airport operator and one of the world's largest airport groups, managing 80+ airports globally. Operates a multi-airport concession model similar to Airplan's, with comparable revenue streams (aeronautical, commercial, parking) and infrastructure modernization playbooks.
• Vinci Airports: Subsidiary of French infrastructure conglomerate Vinci, operating 70+ airports globally under concession contracts. Directly comparable multi-airport portfolio model with similar aeronautical and retail revenue mix.
• Fraport: German airport operator running Frankfurt Airport plus a global portfolio of airport concessions. Comparable as a multi-airport operator with both regulated airport management and commercial revenue streams, focused on operational efficiency and capacity expansion.
• Aeroports de Paris (ADP): Operator of Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports plus a global portfolio of airport investments. Comparable as a major airport operator with strong commercial revenue per passenger and infrastructure modernization programs.

Direct peers

• Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP): Mexican airport operator (ASUR sibling) that operates 13 airports in Mexico's Pacific region under a similar 50-year concession model. Both are Latin American airport concessionaires with multi-airport portfolios, regulatory moats, and aeronautical + non-aeronautical revenue mix.
• Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte (OMA): Mexican airport operator with 13 airports under a similar concession model. Operates regional airports with comparable passenger profiles, infrastructure modernization programs, and tenant relationships. Closest direct comp to Airplan's six-airport regional model.
• Operadora de Aeropuertos Centro Norte (Airplan affiliate): Airplan's legal predecessor name (Sociedad Operadora de Aeropuertos Centro-Norte). Other Latin American airport operators of similar scale in Colombia or the Andean region (e.g., Opain at Bogotá El Dorado) are direct regional comps, though Opain is not separately listed.

Emerging players

• TAV Airports Holding: Turkish airport operator running Istanbul Atatürk and a portfolio of regional airports via concession contracts. Comparable airport operator business model with similar focus on commercial revenue per passenger and infrastructure modernization.
• Egis Airport Operations: French airport operations and consulting firm providing airport management services globally. Comparable as an operator of regional airports under concession/management contracts, with similar operational focus on safety, capacity, and commercial revenue.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@airplansas
• Facebookfacebook.com/AirplanSAS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/airplansas

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Airplan