Summary
Bank of America has identified three airport operators that it believes have clear pathways to growth through a mix of geographic expansion, improving travel dynamics and internal operational changes. The firms flagged are Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste (ASUR), GMR Airports Limited and Beijing Capital Airport. Each company is presented with distinct near-term catalysts: ASUR is expanding its footprint through acquisitions and integrating outsourced services; GMR stands to capture rising Indian travel demand and related non-aeronautical spending; and Beijing Capital Airport is positioned as a turnaround supported by additional slot approvals and a more favorable duty-free contract structure.
ASUR - Expansion and integration as drivers
ASUR is Bank of America’s preferred Mexican airport operator, noted for a geographically diversified portfolio that has grown through mergers and acquisitions. The company currently operates nine airports in Mexico, one in Puerto Rico and six in Colombia. In July 2025 ASUR added retail operations at three U.S. airports - Los Angeles, Chicago and New York - and it will further broaden its network through the announced acquisition of Companhia de Participacoes em Concessoes (CPC), which brings exposure to 20 additional airports across Brazil, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Curacao.
BofA also highlights ASUR’s board proposal to bring in-house the technical assistance and technology transfer services that have been outsourced to its long-standing strategic partner Inversiones y Técnicas Aeroportuarias since ASUR’s inception. That planned integration is expected to simplify operations and support higher profitability.
Across its current 16 airport operations ASUR reports a passenger traffic mix of 63% domestic and 37% international, with traffic exposure by country at 57% Mexico, 24% Colombia and 19% Puerto Rico. Its existing airport network serves 71.6 million passengers; the CPC acquisition would add a further 45 million passengers. ASUR also holds the greatest exposure to non-regulated revenues among Mexican airport groups, a revenue mix that has no upside limit in the same way regulated items do.
In a recent company update, ASUR reported that total revenues for the first quarter of 2026 rose 2.2% year-on-year, a performance the company said was aided by its U.S. expansion. The update also disclosed a 5.8% decline in total passenger traffic for June 2026 versus June 2025.
GMR Airports Limited - Exposure to India’s travel recovery
GMR Airports Limited operates airports in India, including Delhi and Hyderabad, and BofA’s thesis centers on the operator’s ability to benefit from rising air travel in the Indian market. The bank expects GMR to capture demand driven by rail-to-air substitution within India and a broader increase in international travel from the region.
BofA highlights GMR’s non-aeronautical businesses as an additional growth lever. Duty-free spending among Indian consumers and real estate development opportunities tied to the company’s landbank are cited as sources of incremental revenue. On the regulatory front, BofA assesses that risks are skewed to the upside, noting potential medium-term lifts to Delhi regulatory revenues linked to legal appeals.
Near-term catalysts outlined include normalization of disruptions related to capacity shifts around the Iran conflict, a rebound in Hyderabad domestic traffic as airlines restore flight capacity into the Winter 2026-27 season, a recovery in international flights in Delhi should Pakistan airspace reopen, and clarity around an upcoming regulatory decision in Hyderabad.
GMR Airports Limited reported a 36% year-on-year increase in total income for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026. That quarter also marked the company’s first positive annual profit in over a decade.
Beijing Capital Airport - Turnaround potential from slot growth and contract changes
Beijing Capital Airport is presented as a turnaround candidate. The airport can potentially accelerate traffic growth, particularly international volumes, because additional slots have been approved by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). Management has been focused on cost control, and ongoing negotiations over entrusted management fees have opened scope for unit costs to decline further.
Capital expenditure at Beijing Capital Airport is expected to be light over coming years, with estimates around RMB300-500 million. The company had experienced losses for several years following traffic diversion to Daxing Airport and the impacts of COVID-19. After a period of recovery in passenger flows, new slot allocations are arriving as Daxing’s traffic ramps back up.
A new duty-free contract signed at the end of December 2025 increased the share of fixed rental, which lifted duty-free revenue by 7% versus the previous supplemental contract that was in place during the COVID period. On valuation metrics, Beijing Capital Airport trades at approximately 0.5x 26E price-to-book, roughly two standard deviations below its historical average since 2017.
Analysis and implications
BofA’s trio of picks reflects different strategic angles: consolidation and service integration for ASUR, demand capture and non-aeronautical upside for GMR, and operational turnaround with improved contract economics for Beijing Capital. Collectively, these stories emphasize the role of geographic diversification, contract structure and non-aero revenue streams in supporting airport operators’ near-term performance.
Key points
- ASUR is expanding its global footprint through acquisitions and plans to internalize previously outsourced technical services, supporting potential margin improvement.
- GMR Airports stands to benefit from rising domestic and international travel in India, with non-aeronautical revenue and land development options as material upside.
- Beijing Capital Airport may gain from new slot approvals, tighter cost control and a duty-free contract that increases fixed rental, supporting a turnaround.
Risks and uncertainties
- Traffic volatility - passenger volumes remain subject to fluctuations, as illustrated by ASUR’s reported 5.8% year-on-year passenger decline in June 2026, which impacts aeronautical and retail revenues.
- Regulatory outcomes - decisions and appeals, particularly around Delhi and Hyderabad, could materially affect regulatory revenue streams and timing of improvements.
- Operational execution - planned integrations, contract negotiations and capacity restorations must be implemented successfully to realize anticipated cost and revenue benefits.
Conclusion
Bank of America’s selections spotlight airport operators with distinct levers to capture a travel rebound and improve profitability: ASUR through footprint expansion and internalization of services; GMR by leveraging India’s demand dynamics and non-aeronautical growth; and Beijing Capital on the back of slot approvals, cost discipline and a revised duty-free contract. Each company faces identifiable near-term catalysts and risks tied to traffic, regulation and execution.