History
AviAlliance is one of the world's leading industrial airport investors and managers. For many years now, the company, founded in 1997 under the name of HOCHTIEF AirPort (HTA), has been planning, financing and operating airports.
The first airport construction projects of the former parent company HOCHTIEF date back to the 1930s. Later, particularly in the 1970s, the company acquired extensive experience in airport construction when it built the airport of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. In the 1980s, the company became involved in airport financing for the first time in connection with the contract for Warsaw Airport in Poland.
When the concession for Athens International Airport was awarded in 1996, HOCHTIEF, together with its consortium partners, assumed responsibility not just for the design and planning, financing and construction of the airport, but also, for the first time, for the management of an airport as well.
It was the Athens project which, in 1997, prompted HOCHTIEF to set up HOCHTIEF AirPort, as a subsidiary to bundle all the Group's airport management activities.
With the airports of Düsseldorf (1998), Hamburg (2000), Sydney (2002-2013), Tirana (2005-2016) and Budapest (2007-2024), HOCHTIEF AirPort gradually expanded its portfolio of airport shareholdings and also earned a reputation for itself as a consultant in the air transport sector.
In 2013, HOCHTIEF sold all its shares in HOCHTIEF AirPort GmbH to the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments) of Canada. The transaction was concluded with economic effect from January 1, 2013. Following the sale, the company was renamed AviAlliance.
In 2017, AviAlliance acquired a stake in San Juan Airport in Puerto Rico, the largest and busiest airport in the Caribbean. AviAlliance expanded its portfolio in 2025 to include three airports in the United Kingdom, by acquiring the airports of Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton
AviAlliance is a participating interest of the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments) of Canada.
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01 / 2025
AGS Airports
In January 2025, AviAlliance acquires AGS
Airports, operator of the three airports of Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton
in the United Kingdom. AviAlliance is the majority shareholder with a 78 percent stake.
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02 / 2024
Stake increased
In February 2024 AviAlliance raises its stake in
Athens International Airport. Within the framework
of the airport IPO on 7 February 2024, the company
acquires a further ten percent interest and now has
a majority holding with just over 50 percent of the
Greek capital's airport.
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02 / 2019
Athens International Airport
On 22 February 2019, the procedure for the
extension of the concession for Athens
International Airport by 20 years until 2046 is
successfully completed.
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05 / 2017
San Juan Airport
In May 2017, AviAlliance takes over 40 percent of the San Juan Airport in Puerto Rico.
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11 / 2015
AviAlliance moves to Düsseldorf
Following the change of ownership and renaming in fall 2013, AviAlliance has
taken the next step by relocating its headquarters from Essen to Airport City at
Düsseldorf Airport.
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09 / 2013
Sale to PSP Investments
On September 27, 2013 and with economic effect as of January 1, 2013 HOCHTIEF has completed
the sale of all its shares in HOCHTIEF AirPort GmbH to the Public Sector Pension Investment Board
(PSP Investments) of Canada.
Following the sale, the company is renamed AviAlliance. Alongside its new name, the company's corporate design is also being revised. -
07 / 2011
Budapest Airport
In July 2011, HOCHTIEF AirPort and the consortium
partners at Budapest Airport jointly acquire the
state-held stake of 25 percent. The airport is thus
now fully privatized.
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03 / 2011
Budapest Airport
On March 18, 2011, Budapest Airport inaugurates its
new SkyCourt in the presence of 800 invited guests.
The glazed terminal building is the centerpiece of
the BUD Future investment program. In the period up
to 2012, a total of EUR 261 million was invested in
enlarging and modernizing the airport serving the
Hungarian capital.
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11 / 2008
Hamburg Airport
On November 26, 2008, in the presence of 600
guests, Hamburg Airport inaugurates its new Airport
Plaza. As a central marketplace, it connects
Terminals 1 and 2 and accommodates the security
controls.
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06 / 2007
Budapest Airport
On June 6, 2007, HOCHTIEF AirPort, together with
three consortium partners, acquires 75 percent
minus one vote of the shares of Budapest Airport
and thus has a majority holding in an airport for
the first time.
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12 / 2006
Increase of interests
In December 2006, HOCHTIEF AirPort takes advantage of
the opportunity to increase its interests in two of its
airports. In Hamburg, HTA and HTAC together acquire the minority
interests of Aer Rianta. In
Athens, ABB AG sells off its 5 percent stake to
HOCHTIEF AirPort and a private investor.
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04 / 2005
Tirana International Airport
On April 23, 2005, the operation of Tirana
International Airport is placed in the hands of
private management. At the same time, extensive modernization
and construction measures are initiated.
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10 / 2004
Tirana International Airport
In October 2004, HOCHTIEF AirPort signs the
concession contract for Tirana International
Airport in Albania. HOCHTIEF AirPort has a 47
percent interest in the consortium which is to
operate the airport for the next 20 years. Its
consortium partners are DEG Deutsche Investitions-
und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (31.7%) and the
Albanian-American Enterprise Fund (21.3%).
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06 / 2002
Sydney Airport
On June 25, 2002, the Southern Cross consortium,
which includes HOCHTIEF AirPort as a member, is
awarded the contract for the privatization of
Sydney Airports Corporation Ltd. The private owners
acquire 100 percent of the stock of the airport
company.
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03 / 2001
Athens International Airport
On March 28, 2001, passenger operations commence at
the new Athens International Airport, located just
outside the Greek capital. Following the five-year
design and construction period, HOCHTIEF AirPort
assumes responsibility for managing the airport up
to 2026.
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10 / 2000
Hamburg Airport
On October 13, 2000, the HOCHTIEF AirPort/Aer
Rianta consortium acquires 36 percent of the stock
of Hamburg Airport. In January 2002 the consortium
acquires a further 4 percent and in August 2002 an
additional 9 percent. This gives the consortium a
49 percent interest in Germany's fifth-largest
airport.
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01 / 1998
Düsseldorf Airport
On January 1, 1998, a consortium comprising
HOCHTIEF AirPort and Aer Rianta of Ireland acquire
a stake in Düsseldorf Airport. Together, the
consortium partners hold 50 percent of the stock,
the other 50 percent remains in the hands of the
City of Düsseldorf. This represents the first
partial privatization of an airport in Germany.
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12 / 1997
Foundation of HOCHTIEF AirPort
In 1997, the Athens International Airport project
and the winning of the contract for a second
airport project, in Düsseldorf, prompt HOCHTIEF to
found HOCHTIEF AirPort GmbH as an independent,
wholly owned subsidiary to bundle the Group's
airport management activities.
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06 / 1996
Athens International Airport
On June 11, 1996, HOCHTIEF signs the BOOT
(Build-Own-Operate-Transfer) concession for Athens
International Airport, the first privately financed
airport project in the world consisting of a
partnership between a public authority and a
business company. Over a period of five years, with
an investment volume of more than EUR 2 billion,
HOCHTIEF designs, finances and builds the airport.