abertis

Belfast International Airport forms part of abertis, Europe's leading infrastructure company, and is one of the most outstanding business groups in terms of profitability and financial capacity. As a result of the activities undertaken in the fields of motorways, telecommunications infrastructures, airports, car parks and logistic parks, abertis is present in 17 countries in three continents.

Following the incorporation of the French motorway operator sanef in February 2006, the group has a workforce of nearly 11,000 people and 50% of its income is produced outside Spain. The group is quoted on the Spanish stock exchange and forms part of the select Ibex 35 index, as well as the international indexes Dow Jones Sustainability, FTS Eurofirst 300 and Standard & Poor's Europe 350.

Since 2003, after the merger between Acesa Infraestructuras and Áurea Infraestructuras, which gave rise to abertis, the group has worked on a progressive expansion process until establishing itself as an operator focused on the infrastructures management working in a setting of growing internationalisation of its activity. The most recent achievements that have a bearing on the development of the group have been:

• In motorways, the incorporation of the French motorway operator sanef into the abertis Group, in 2006. 
• In telecommunications, the purchase of the telecommunication networks operator retevisión in 2003; the 2007 purchase of 32% of Eutelsat, Europe's leading satellite operator; and the purchase of 28.4% of Hispasat (operation approved by the Council of Ministers on 15 February this year).
• In airports, the take-overs of the British airport group TBI in 2005 and of Desarrollo de Concesiones Aeroportuarias (DCA), a holding company with interests in 15 Latin-American airports, in 2007.
• In car-parks, the internationalisation process, with projects in countries such as Italy and Chile.
• In logistic parks, the expansion and internationalisation of the logistic parks, with new projects in Portugal and Chile.

Business Areas

Motorways: In this sector, abertis directly manages 3,365 kilometres -after the incorporation of the French agency sanef-, and is placed third in the European ranking for kilometres managed.

Telecommunication infrastructures: With more than 3,200 locations, abertis telecom is the leader in Spain in the transport and diffusion of TV and radio signals. After the acquisition, in 2007, of 32% of the share capital of Eutelsat, as well as 28.4% of Hispasat, abertis telecom also features as a key player at an international level in the field of satellite infrastructures.

Airports: abertis airports holds stakes in 31 airports in 9 countries where it handles more than 80 million passengers a year. With the recent acquisition of DCA, abertis airports becomes one of the largest operators in the world with a notable presence in Europe and America.

Car parks: abertis, through its saba branch, manages more than 100,000 car parking spaces, in 180 car parks in more than 70 cities in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Chile, Morocco and Andorra.

Logistic infrastructures and services: The projects currently promoted by abertis logística occupy a gross surface area of over 706 hectares, with a buildable surface area of almost 3 million square metres. At present, abertis logística has 826,500 square metres built on, with 88% occupation.

For more information log on to www.abertisairports.com.