HASDC Development Corporation
We are about airports, their importance, and the good they can do.
To people, to trade, and economic development.
HAS Development Corporation
HASDC is an airport development, management, and advisory company.
Since its incorporation in 2001, HASDC has played a significant role in airport privatizations, concessions, and public-private partnerships (PPP’s) in Central and South America.
Through its active involvement in these projects, HASDC has successfully unlocked substantial value in the markets where these airports are located. Additionally, HASDC provides technical assistance and consulting services for the planning and development of operational airport facilities.
We have also worked hand-in-hand with governments and private sector of developing countries to connect their economies to global markets by helping to create best-in- class airports while, at the same time, enhancing the lives of their citizens through new jobs linked to the airports economic activity.
HASDC recognizes the immense potential of airports as economic drivers, but also as important contributors to a city’s / region’s / country’s brand. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in our willingness and adaptability to establish beneficial relationships with airport authorities, local governments, and their communities.
HASDC is proud to be among the few US corporations with Concessions and Technical Services Agreements in the global airport Concessions/PPP space.
Aeropuerto de Quito
airport-focus-on-safety-and-security-HASDC
Commercial-and-traffic-development

Some of Our Past and Present Projects

The corporation has or has had different levels of involvement in various successful airport projects, including:
Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito, Ecuador (UIO)
Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito, Ecuador (UIO)
Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José, Costa Rica (SJO)
Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José, Costa Rica (SJO)
Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport in Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR)
Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport in Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR)
Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport in Barranquilla, Colombia (BAQ).
Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport in Barranquilla, Colombia (BAQ).
Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport in San Pedro Sula, Honduras (SAP)
Juan Manuel Galvez International Airport In Roatan, Honduras (RTB)
Goloson International Airport In La Ceiba, Honduras (LCE)

Services

HASDC can support basically all airport-related activities, including operations, capital development, planning, commercialization, privatization and training.

Airport Management Assistance

  • Management Audits
  • Organizational reviews
  • Efficiency assessments
  • Resource planning (in-house vs. outsource)
  • Peer reviews

Passenger and Cargo Growth

  • Air service development marketing
  • Passenger and cargo feasibility studies and route analysis
  • Cargo development strategies and marketing programs
Passenger and Cargo Growth

Planning and Feasibility Studies

  • Capital project management and coordination
  • Airport facility design and value engineering
  • Alternative project delivery methods
  • Terminal design planning and development
  • Consolidated car rental facilities
  • Solicitation of professional design, construction and contracting services
  • Transition and activation plans

Airport Development and Construction Management

  • Airport master plans and layout plans
  • Airport system and regional planning
  • Compatible land-use planning and regulations
  • Environmental planning and reviews
  • Noise and environmental mitigation programs
Airport-Development-and-Construction-Management-HASDC

Financial Management and Business Planning

  • Business and strategic planning
  • Financial analysis and budgeting
  • Financing plans and funding sources
  • Rates and charges
  • Maximizing concession and other non-aeronautical revenues
  • Airline and tenant negotiations
  • Information technology systems

Airport Operations and Maintenance

  • Airport certification programs
  • Airfield, terminal and landside operations and training
  • Ground transportation and parking
  • Physical plant and airfield maintenance program

Safety and Security Preparedness and Training

  • Safety Management System (SMS) plans
  • Public safety and security programs
  • Emergency preparedness and response
  • Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) response
  • Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT)
  • Strategic and crisis communications

Priorities

HASDC’s non-profit and operator DNA allows us to correctly define and order priorities:

1 - Identify how HASDC can help

2 - Always do the right thing, and do it well ​

a. With the operator’s long-term view and commitment
b. In a professional and pragmatic manner

  • Flexibility with how HASDC engages
  • No issue with being a minority shareholder, and no need to control, but rather focused on what is best for the airports and their communities

3 - The economic benefits will then come. ​

These priorities, in this order, align themselves with HASDC’s sustainability triple-bottom-line, which is about being responsible stewards of an airports financial, people and environmental resources.
  • It is a multi-prong balancing act: the magic happens at the intersection between people, planet, and prosperity.
We take to heart the belief that airports play a critical role in creating enduring and successful communities.
  • It is about operating airports in an efficient and responsible manner to ensure success today and well into the future.
HASDC is very proud of the performance of the different projects and airports where it has had the privilege of working, and of the valuable relationships established over the years, including ones with our partners, financial entities, consultancies, regulatory entities, international associations and governments.

Governance & Structure

HASDC Meeting Room
HASDC is a private, Texas-based 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation created to promote air commerce and economic development for the benefit of the Houston Airport System and its airports.
It does not receive funding from the City of Houston or HAS and generates revenues from its own portfolio of investments and consulting agreements making it a self-funded private non-profit corporation.
HASDC is an entirely separate entity from the Houston Airport System with no operational or financial responsibility for the HAS airports. Similarly the Houston Airport System has no financial, legal or operational responsibility for the activities of HASDC.

Management Team

More than 60 years of combined experience in airports and aviation working for you and your airport projects. From airport design, construction, start-up, development, operation, management and international regulation compliance together with air service promotion and expansion. Passengers and Cargo.
HASDC Board
Agustin Arellano - CEO HASDC

Agustín Arellano

President & CEO

Agustin is an expert with more than 30 years of international experience in airport, air traffic and government issues.

He led SENEAM for 10 years, the entity in charge of managing all air traffic in Mexico. Successfully completed the privatization of 35 airports in Mexico divided into three major groups: ASUR, OMA and GAP (worth $1 billion).

He served as Chief Infrastructure Officer and International Director of ASUR, the privatized company in charge of airports in southern Mexico, including Cancun, Cozumel and Merida.

He led the team that submitted one of the bids for the privatization of the Guarulhos airport in Sao Paulo, Brazil, a transaction involving about six billion dollars. Subsequently, he led one of the groups that submitted bids and successfully obtained the privatization of the airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico (10 million passengers per year). The first FAA Authorized full privatization of a medium size airport HUB in the USA.

He was President and CEO for 6 years of Aerostar Airport Holdings, the company in charge of the management and administration of the airport once it was privatized.

He has been a consultant, lecturer, and speaker at countless conferences, assemblies and meetings worldwide on issues of privatizations, concessions, operation and design of airport master plans.

Agustin is a member of the Board of Directors of Quiport, the concessionaire of the international airport in Quito, Ecuador. He is an engineer and licensed aircraft pilot.

Ada Silva - CFO HASDC

Ada Silva

CFO

Ada is responsible for the finance, accounting, and tax functions at HASDC. She is a professional with over 30 years of combined experience in finance and tax (with expertise in tax-exempt, international, and multistate financial reporting and taxation).

Prior to joining the HASDC team in March of 2020, Ada served for eight years as Tax Director and South American Controller of Denali Inc. and Subsidiaries (now part of NOV), a large group of companies specializing in the manufacture of fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) equipment, with multistate and international operations. She oversaw the tax planning and compliance aspects of all operations in North America, including Canada, and was the Controller for the South American operations of the company. She was also a member of the Due Diligence team of Denali in the successful acquisition of two target companies.

Before joining Denali, she served fifteen years in the Tax Department of Fitts, Roberts, Kolkhorst & Co., a Houston-based public accounting firm, where she became a Tax Shareholder. She worked with both public and private companies in various groups of industries, including tax-exempt entities. She advised clients on federal, multi-state, and international tax issues.

Ada was part of the Tax Administration Reform team that successfully created SUNAT, the entity responsible for collecting and administering taxes in Peru.

She is a Certified Public Accountant, a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Eduardo Iglesias - CLO HASDC

Eduardo Iglesias

CLO

Eduardo is an aviation professional with more than 20 years of experience in legal, regulatory, governance, and corporate matters for airlines and airports.

He worked 10 years as Vice President Legal and Director of Contracts of the TACA Airlines Group during its expansion in Central and South America being part of the team that achieved the integration of the airlines into a single brand: TACA.

He participated in the creation and launch of TACA Peru and later Volaris (low-cost airline) in Mexico. He led TACA’s legal team in the due diligence process and subsequent merger with Avianca Airlines where he served as Legal Vice President for an additional 3 years.

Subsequently, he worked for 4 years as Executive Director of ALTA (Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association) where he represented all Latin American and Caribbean aviation, along with a good number of its suppliers, at a global level.

Prior to joining the HASDC team, Eduardo advised several airlines and companies in the Caribbean for a period of 4 years. He currently holds the position of Chief Legal Officer of HASDC.

He holds two bachelor’s degrees in addition to having completed a Juris Doctor (JD) degree and a Master’s degree (LL.M.) in Aerospace Law.

Board of Directors

Chairman:

Jim Szczesniak
Director | Houston Airport System.

Vice Chairman:

Michael B. Cox
Vice Chairman | Seabury Aviation Partners.

Treasurer & Secretary:

Astley Blair
CFO | Marine Well Containment Company LLC.

Giving Back

HASDC is proud of the contributions it has made for the benefit of the Houston Airport System and the city of Houston. From its own generated revenues, it has provided grants for the fostering of education in the aerospace industry, development of the Houston Spaceport, and enhancement of the passenger experience.

San Jacinto College Edge Center,

Funding for the development of the San Jacinto College Edge Center, where students can learn the latest on Aerospace technologies. The Edge Center offers aerospace training, and a pathway to careers in the Aerospace Industry, which is vital for the growth of the Aerospace workforce in Houston.

Houston Spaceport

Financial support for the first phase of development of the Houston Spaceport, which is now home to several companies in the aerospace business, contributing to the growth of the economy and to the creation of new jobs.

Newest Interfaith Chapel

Financially Supported the renovation of the newest Interfaith Chapel at Hobby Airport, a space for meditation, reflection, prayer and worship.

Recognitions and Accomplishments

Here’s a sampling of these. Visit the aiports’ websites for more information
Quito International Airport, Ecuador

Best Airport in the World
In Less Than 2 Million
Passenger Category

Best Regional Airport in South America

Best Airport

Of 5 To 15 Million Passengers In Latin America And Caribbean Airport Service Quality

Best Airport
(5 to 15 million passengers)

In Latin America and Caribbean

San Jose International Airport, Costa Rica

Best Regional Airport in Central America & Caribbean

Airport Carbon Accreditation
(Reduction)

Green Airport

Best Airport Staff
In Central Amerca & Caribbean

Liberia, Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Feel free to drop us a line.

To leverage our proven expertise for your project or to learn more, contact us.

550 Westcott St. Suite 350 Houston, TX 77007.

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