Sicily's Catania and Comiso airports draw 14 privatization bids

Fourteen expressions of interest have been submitted to SAC, the company that manages the Catania and Comiso airports in Sicily, as part of a privatization process that aims to sell a majority stake of between 51% and 65% of the capital. The bids come from a mix of Italian and international operators, including Vinci Airports, Corporación América, Aena, Fraport, Royal Schiphol Group, Mundys and 2i Aeroporti.

SAC extended the deadline for the public notice to 15 June after receiving 81 clarification requests, indicating strong market interest. The documentation and eligibility verification phase is now underway; applicants that pass will be invited to subsequent stages of the procedure. An assembly of shareholders also defined future governance rules, leaving a public component in the airport group's oversight after the sale.

The announced privatization is presented as a way to attract industrial partners capable of funding infrastructure upgrades, strengthening the airports' competitiveness and supporting long‑term growth of Sicily’s mobility and tourism sectors.