Puerto Rico Ports Authority Executive Director Víctor Suárez said Tuesday the Federal Aviation Administration has been “rigorously evaluating” the proposed public-private partnership deal for the Luis Muñoz Marín International airport because “everything they express will become precedent.”
In about a week, the Federal Aviation Administration is expected to make its decision on the public-private partnership agreement through which the government of Puerto Rico would turn over the management of the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport to Aerostar Airport Holdings for the next 40 years.
If the Puerto Rico government were to walk away from the public-private partnership that turns over the responsibility of managing and operating the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport to Aerostar Holdings, it would have to compensate the consortium with as much as $8 million for its troubles, according to the 40-year lease agreement signed earlier this year.
While dozens of representatives from the public, private and labor sectors asked for a turn to speak during last Friday’s Federal Aviation Administration-sponsored hearing on the proposal to transfer the operation of Puerto Rico’s main airport facility, the Luis Muñoz Marín Airport, out of the government’s hands, others have opted to go online to express their thoughts on the historic transaction.
The U.S. Congress has approved the Federal Aviation Administration Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, which includes an amendment presented by Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi to guarantee equal treatment for Puerto Rico’s airports with respect to federal funding.
Citing damages caused following the passing of Tropical Storm Emily, Port Authority Executive Director Alberto Escudero announced Thursday the Federal Aviation Administration’s decision to close the air-traffic control tower at the Fernando Ribas Dominicci airport in Isla Grande.
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