Are PPPs the best option for airport development in the region?
Published on January 19, 2026
Seasoned Civil Aviation and Airport Management professional Kurt Menal is calling for greater use of Public Private Partnerships in airport development throughout the region.
In an article posted on his LinkedIn page and distributed to local media, Menal declares that PPPs ‘are no longer a theoretical policy option’, adding that “they are a practical, proven mechanism for accelerating airport development”.
Kurt Menal - Senior Aviation Expert
Menal notes that “across the region, many airports face mounting pressures: aging facilities, rising passenger expectations, climate vulnerability, fiscal constraints, and growing competition for airline service”.
He says Caribbean governments operate in a constrained fiscal environment and that “airport modernization requires significant upfront capital and long term operational expertise”.
Menal argues that “PPPs offer a way forward by mobilizing private capital while allowing governments to retain strategic control over critical infrastructure”.
He goes on to add that “well structured airport PPPs bring more than money. They introduce global operational expertise, commercial discipline, and performance driven management practices”.
He points out that “Airports are powerful economic multipliers” bringing in increased tourism arrivals, employment, stimulate local and foreign investment and strengthen international trade. But Menal notes that “PPPs are not one size fits all. The Caribbean’s diversity demands flexibility”.
The aviation expert cautions that “a successful PPP depends on strong governance, clear regulation, and transparent procurement” and reasserts that “Public Private Partnerships are not about selling national assets”.
