Private control of key Brazil airports?

In the rush to get ready for the upcoming World Cup and Olympic games, Brazil’s key airports may be placed under private control, UPI reports today.

As the country prepares to host the World Cup in 2014 and 2016 Olympic Games, experts both in Brazil and abroad have consistently voiced concerns that Brazil’s air travel infrastructure isn’t up to the task.

UPI’s report says Brazil’s presidential chief of staff, Antonio Palocci, gave a speech Tuesday indicating airports in Sao Paulo, Brasilia and Campinas will turn over their management to private companies in the run-up to the World Cup. Citing “current industry estimates,” the report said that, in order to handle the World Cup and Olympic influx, Brazil’s airports will need to boost their current air capacity of 130 million passengers per year to 310 million per year.