Bydgoszcz GSM decided to let a foreign investor into the company. PPL, the state-owned airport operator, which had said before it would be neutral, was against an investor from the aviation industry. Marcin Hydzik, Bydgoszcz airport CEO, and the majority of shareholders, believe that investor with money and know-how is necessary. PPL bases on the strategy of airport development being prepared at the Ministry of Transport and agrees for an investor provided he is a financial one. This suits PPL strategy of managing airport infrastructure after PPL is privatized.
“In our opinion, Bydgoszcz airport does not need magic knowledge but money”, Artur Burak from PPL said.
Decision concerning the investor should be made before the end of August.
“Today, the airport generates losses and every year main shareholders including Bydgoszcz town and the voivodship support it. It seems that PPL wants to preserve the situation. Meanwhile, the loss of capital which PPL neither offers nor lets in, will cause the bankruptcy of the airport. Maybe this is what PPL really aims to? The company is more interested in Poznan and Gdansk airports where its stakes are bigger”, Marcin Hydzik believed.
Tomasz Dziedzic, Institute of Tourism expert, believes that if someone wants to spend money and give know-how, there are no reasons to refuse him. Bydgoszcz airport would like to raise capital by PLN 30-40m and sell a 49 percent stake, the maximum level allowed by law. There are six companies interested in the acquisition including firms from the UK, India, France and Austria.
(PLN 1 = EUR 0.262)