• ACCIONA adds all the handling operations for the LATAM group in Santiago de Chile to its portfolio of businesses, as well as a long-term contract to provide ramp handling services to the airline at Santiago airport
  • Andes is currently the leading provider of ramp services in Santiago de Chile, serving nearly 45,000 flights each year

ACCIONA has completed the acquisition process for Andes, the aircraft handling services subsidiary of the LATAM group at Santiago de Chile airport. ACCIONA now has 100% operational and administrative control of the company, which will help consolidate its presence in the airport services market in Chile.

Following the Andes acquisition, ACCIONA will take over all of its handling operations, as well as a long-term contract to provide ramp handling services to LATAM at Santiago airport. ACCIONA also now manages Andes’ assets and the continuity of a workforce made up of nearly 1,000 people.

“We will work to modernize the ground handling fleet, incorporating technology into the operational processes to enable the business to maintain its competitive edge and to continue growing sustainably and efficiently”, said ACCIONA Infrastructure Country Manager, Diego Pini.

Andes Airport Services is a subsidiary of the LATAM Group, founded in 1990, operating ramp handling services at Santiago airport for both the LATAM Group airlines and third-parties. Andes is currently the leading ramp services provider at the airport, serving nearly 45,000 flights a year, for a portfolio of nine airlines (including Latam).

ACCIONA entered the airport business in Chile in 2016 through its airport services subsidiary. Throughout 2017, ACCIONA expanded its full handling services (passengers + ramp) under the contract with the airline JetSMART, operating as its exclusive handling agent in Chile at 10 domestic airports (Santiago, Calama, Antofagasta, Copiapó, La Serena, Concepción, Temuco, Puerto Montt, Iquique, Punta Arenas and Valdivia).

The rapid growth of the airport handling services business has enabled ACCIONA to commit to Chile as a strategic growth market in this sector, from a position of leadership at the countrys largest airport. Following the acquisition of Andes, the company now has a market share of over 60%.

Internationally, ACCIONA has over 20 years of experience in handling services for third parties, with a client portfolio in excess of 100 airlines. It provides handling services at airports such as Düsseldorf, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.