Curaçao Airport is one of the most important airports in the Caribbean and Deerns is guiding it into the future by validating ongoing maintenance and identifying a long-term asset CapEx strategy.
Our Transactional Services team is compiling a comprehensive report on its assets so that they are in top shape for the 1.5 million passengers passing through its gates annually, in close cooperation with airport consultancy, Planeground, The goal is to obtain strategic insight into the expected CapEx and desired programme for the upcoming period, by providing an independent assessment on the technical condition of the airport.
The airport is operated by a third-party company on behalf of the owner, Curaçao Airport Holding, a representative of the Government of Curaçao.
The Deerns team is finalising the project and site visits have been conducted with engineers from both Deerns and Planeground, who hold specialist knowledge about how airports operate, including the functioning of runways, aprons, taxiways and terminal buildings. Interestingly, Curaçao Airport (CUR) has a uniquely wide, 3,5km long runway – one the longest in the Caribbean – which is also used by the U.S. Air Force and the Netherlands Marine Corps.
A Comprehensive Approach
Working closely with both the airport owner and the airport operator during site visits ensures an in-depth understanding of the condition of all assets. Experts from Deerns and Planeground are covering all engineering aspects from civil and structural to M&E and specific transport systems. This approach will ensure that all assets are adequately assessed.
Remco Heuver, Strategic Advisor, Transactional Services, Deerns, notes that the condition and maintenance status of all the airport buildings and civil areas have been inspected.
" Ultimately, Deerns determines what needs to be done to maintain the airport’s prominent position going forward.
Three Steps to Success
An effective three-step process is being implemented to address issues:
- Issues are found: an assessment will detect (potential) problems in different areas such as runways in need of maintenance, to ensure that planes can continue using the airport safely.
- Risks are quantified: an issue is broken down into a technical mitigation solution while addressing the potential impact on health and safety, operational, commercial, and legal aspects.
- Solutions are formulated: Working together with the airport operator, Deerns and Planeground will finalise suitable solutions for integration in the ongoing operations and maintenance strategy.
This exercise will assist the operator in prioritising maintenance. As with any tenant-landlord relationship, the operator’s priority is operational optimisation while the owner may be more invested in the long term sustainable real estate strategy of the airport. Both priorities share common ground and balancing them is vital so that the airport remains safe and functional, with a focus on being attractive to tourists as well as being future ready.
Here’s where we support Efficient Asset Maintenance
The report will generate a risk register by prioritising the risks for the operator and the owner. Costs for repair or mitigation will be visualised, and the CapEx plan will reflect the expected expenditure per element with an end-of-life projection.
Commissioning an independent party not only ensures an objective view of the assets, but also fosters transparency and encourages a forward-thinking mindset that will enable the airport to improve its adaptability and efficiency in maintaining assets. With this approach, guided by the expertise of Deerns and Planeground, Curaçao Airport will be able to move forward confidently into the future.
