Governor Rolando Figueroa affirmed that Presidente Perón airport in the city of Neuquén is not up to the provincial needs. During a foreign trade day organized by Asociación de Industriales de Neuquén, he questioned the current contract and linked the modernization of the terminal with demographic, productive, and export growth.
Figueroa reported that the current concession is in its final stage and that the Government has initiated the last negotiations for a new scheme. Among the evaluated options, he mentioned Aeropuertos Argentina, provided that the company meets the requirements that will be incorporated into the future tender. The administration is currently in the hands of Aeropuertos del Neuquén SA.
The provincial vision seeks to transform the terminal into a gateway for Neuquén and Norpatagonia. The project is not limited to passenger flights: it includes a cargo airport and connections with medium- and long-distance trains and buses to the Valley and the interior. It also foresees building expansions, infrastructure improvements, complementary services, and greater operational capacity.
The latest available data from Administración Nacional de Aviación Civil recorded around 900 monthly movements and 99.000 passengers during June. The terminal ranked sixth nationwide in domestic traffic. The international route to Santiago de Chile was withdrawn by LATAM due to the low occupancy level, a record that shows both the potential and the limits of demand.
The Undersecretary of Tourism, Sergio Sciacchitano, had set the possible start of the tender between October and November, with the goal of a new company taking over in 2027. The Government is working on the requirements of the bid and seeks to call the procedure before the end of the year. That schedule is still a forecast and may vary according to negotiations and administrative decisions.
The strategy is complemented by the expansion of Chapelco airport and with new flights from American Jet from Neuquén to Chos Malal and Chapelco starting in September. The new concession of President Perón has not yet been awarded: its impact will depend on the final content of the tender, the offers received, and the investments actually committed.
