TIMOR-LESTE: Dili Airport PPP Options

Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport in Dili is the main international airport in Timor-Leste, handling around 200,000 passengers per year in 2014 as per the report “Taking Flight: analysis of Timor-Leste Civil Aviation and recommendations” published by Asia Foundation. Initially constructed during the Indonesian era as a domestic airport, further investments and new arrangements are now needed to enable it to function as Timor-Leste’s main international gateway in line with international air safety standards and service levels.

Since July 2019, PPIAF has been supporting the Government of Timor-Leste to make an informed decision on how to structure its airport sector and main airport asset. PPIAF provided capacity building and due diligence support to the Master Plan and Investment Plan for the refurbishment, modernization, operation and maintenance of the Dili Airport. While Dili airport was chosen as a pilot, the relevance of this work extends to the entire air transport sector in Timor Leste. This will be a critical component in the country’s plan to boost tourism and trade.

This activity explored the opportunities to mainstream gender in airport PPP development. Gender parity considerations will be integrated within existing laws and regulations, as well as in the Dili Airport project design. PPIAF recommended to increase women’s participation in the planning and operation of the airport, as well as the design of resettlement plans. Giving women a greater voice will ensure equal and equitable access to employment, freedom from sexual harassment, and women’s economic empowerment.