Vinci Airports, the airport operations arm of France’s VINCI Group, said it expects passenger traffic growth to moderate through the remainder of the year as elevated jet fuel prices and geopolitical tensions exert pressure on the aviation sector. The operator nevertheless reported no evidence of sweeping airline capacity reductions and signaled openness to further expansion in Mexico and in other markets.
During a visit to Monterrey, company chief executive Remi Maumon de Longevialle described a new period of volatility across several markets, pointing specifically to tensions in the Middle East and Asia. "For the first time, there is new volatility in different markets," he said, adding that "traffic growth may be a little bit lower than last year."
Maumon de Longevialle said Vinci Airports - the world’s largest private airport operator - had not observed "dramatic" shifts in airline capacity, despite earlier worries that carriers in Europe and North America might sharply revise schedules. While airlines were responding to rising fuel costs, he said such adjustments were not at a level that should alarm investors. "It’s fair to acknowledge that growth won’t reach the same figures as the previous years," he said. "But there is no specific concern about airlines changing or adjusting dramatically capacities."
Mexico remains a key market for Vinci Airports. The company became the main shareholder in airport operator OMA nearly four years ago, and Maumon de Longevialle reiterated that Mexico represents a long-term growth opportunity, citing the strength of domestic air travel, Monterrey’s status as a commercial hub and what he described as a stable concession framework.
OMA Chief Executive Ricardo Duenas outlined the operator’s recent and planned capital spending in Monterrey, saying the company had invested 8 billion pesos in the airport over the past five years and intends to deploy another 8 billion pesos over the next five years. Part of the expanded terminal is expected to open by year-end, with additional staged openings scheduled through the end of the following year.
The remarks came alongside market snippets that showed SGEF up 0.93% and OMAB up 1.15% at the time the data were noted. Maumon de Longevialle also left the door open to further expansion, saying: "If there are new opportunities in Mexico, we could consider," and confirming that Vinci is likewise receptive to growth prospects beyond Mexico.
Currency conversion referenced in the discussion used the rate of $1 = 17.5280 Mexican pesos.
- Summary: Vinci Airports anticipates slower passenger growth through year-end due to higher jet fuel costs and geopolitical tensions, while reporting no major airline capacity cuts and maintaining plans to invest in Mexico.