Godspeed Capital's BNP Group Acquires Airport Gurus in Strategic Expansion

In a move that underscores the growing appetite for specialized aviation infrastructure consulting, Godspeed Capital Management-backed BNP Group announced Wednesday the acquisition of Airport Gurus, a Barcelona-based consultancy specializing in airport information and communication technology (ICT) and operations planning. The deal represents BNP's third transaction following its acquisitions of Establish and STS in 2025, accelerating the platform's transformation into a comprehensive aviation design and engineering powerhouse.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed, though the acquisition aligns with Godspeed Capital's stated focus on companies generating approximately $3 million to $30 million of EBITDA in the lower middle-market defense and government services sector.

The deal comes at a pivotal moment for the global aviation industry, which continues to grapple with aging infrastructure, surging passenger volumes, and the imperative to modernize legacy systems. Airport Gurus brings to BNP a specialized capability set focused on digital transformation—a critical need as airports worldwide race to implement smart technologies that can enhance passenger experience while improving operational efficiency and reducing costs.

BNP launched as Godspeed's 8th dedicated platform in the fall of 2024, marking the private equity firm's continued expansion into specialized consulting and engineering services at the intersection of public and private sector clients. The platform strategy reflects Godspeed's thesis that fragmented professional services markets offer compelling opportunities for consolidation and value creation through strategic acquisitions.

The acquisition timeline reveals an aggressive buy-and-build strategy. Since launching BNP as a platform just 15 months ago, Godspeed has executed three complementary acquisitions at a rapid pace—demonstrating both conviction in the aviation infrastructure thesis and confidence in the platform's integration capabilities.

For BNP, a firm that has proudly served its clients since 1971, executing thousands of projects throughout the world, the Airport Gurus acquisition represents more than geographic expansion—it's a strategic capability enhancement that positions the company to offer end-to-end solutions for aviation clients. The addition of ICT consulting and operations planning services complements BNP's existing strengths in airport design, engineering, and infrastructure development.

"We are pleased to welcome Airport Gurus to BNP as we continue to expand our consulting capabilities and services for clients on a global scale," said Damien Breier, CEO of BNP Group. The executive emphasized that the Barcelona-based firm's extensive experience completing ICT and operations projects across multiple strategic aviation markets furthers BNP's global presence and its ability to enhance passenger experience while improving operational efficiency.

The strategic rationale is clear: airports increasingly demand integrated solutions rather than piecemeal consulting engagements. By combining traditional design and engineering capabilities with cutting-edge ICT expertise, BNP can now address the full spectrum of airport modernization needs—from master planning and terminal design to digital infrastructure and smart technology implementation.

Co-founded in 2013 by Benjamín Moreno Palacios and Jose Francisco Rabazo Fernandez, Airport Gurus has carved out a distinctive niche in the aviation consulting landscape. The firm specializes in two interconnected domains: information and communication technology systems and airport business operations planning, with particular emphasis on the digital transformation of legacy systems and smart technology implementation.

Based in Barcelona with a second location in Madrid, Airport Gurus has established additional offices in South America and the United States, reflecting the firm's international ambitions and client base. The company's track record spans diverse airport types and geographies, including projects in the U.S., Spain, the U.K., France, Bulgaria, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Brazil, and Peru.

This geographic footprint proves particularly valuable for BNP, which gains immediate access to European and South American markets where Airport Gurus has cultivated deep relationships and regional expertise. The combination creates a truly global aviation consulting platform with on-the-ground presence across multiple continents.

"We are thrilled to be partnering with BNP, a leading platform for airport design, engineering, and planning services around the world," said Benjamín Moreno Palacios, Co-Founder and CEO of Airport Gurus. "This partnership marks a significant expansion for Airport Gurus, adding new capabilities for our valued clients."

The enthusiasm is mutual. For Airport Gurus' clients, the BNP partnership provides access to a broader suite of services, enabling more comprehensive project delivery. For BNP's existing clients, Airport Gurus brings specialized ICT expertise that can enhance ongoing engagements and unlock new project opportunities.

The timing of this acquisition reflects broader trends reshaping the global aviation industry. Airports worldwide face mounting pressure to modernize aging infrastructure while accommodating growing passenger volumes and evolving security requirements. Digital transformation has emerged as a critical enabler, with ICT systems playing an increasingly central role in airport operations.

Smart airport technologies—from biometric passenger processing and real-time baggage tracking to predictive maintenance systems and integrated operations centers—require sophisticated ICT architecture and implementation expertise. Legacy systems, often decades old, must be carefully transitioned to modern platforms without disrupting daily operations at facilities that never close.

This is precisely where Airport Gurus' expertise becomes invaluable. The firm's focus on digital transformation of legacy systems addresses one of the most challenging aspects of airport modernization: how to upgrade critical infrastructure while maintaining operational continuity. The complexity of these projects—involving multiple stakeholders, stringent regulatory requirements, and zero tolerance for downtime—creates significant barriers to entry and supports premium pricing for specialized consultants.

Airport operations planning, Airport Gurus' other core competency, has likewise grown in strategic importance. As airports evolve into complex commercial ecosystems encompassing retail, dining, logistics, and passenger services, optimizing operations requires sophisticated planning tools and methodologies. The ability to model passenger flows, optimize resource allocation, and enhance operational efficiency directly impacts both the passenger experience and the airport's financial performance.

The Airport Gurus acquisition exemplifies Godspeed Capital's disciplined approach to platform building. The firm focuses on control buyouts, buy-and-builds, corporate carve-outs, and special situations, with a particular emphasis on the defense and government services sector where the firm has developed deep domain expertise.

"The addition of the Airport Gurus team to BNP represents a key step in our goal of building a market-leading air transportation design and engineering firm," said James Reid, Principal at Godspeed. "Their team's airport ICT and operations expertise and extensive body of work across multiple continents will enable BNP to both enhance its services for existing customers while also unlocking access to new clients in new markets."

The rapid pace of BNP's expansion—three acquisitions in just over a year since the platform's launch—demonstrates Godspeed's ability to execute on its buy-and-build strategy. This velocity reflects both the fragmented nature of the aviation consulting market and Godspeed's conviction that consolidation can create significant value through enhanced service offerings, geographic expansion, and operational synergies.

For Godspeed, BNP represents the fifth platform to offer specialized consulting, engineering, and design services at the intersection of public and private customers. This thematic focus on professional services firms serving government and infrastructure markets aligns with the firm's core expertise and reflects a deliberate strategy to build domain knowledge that can be leveraged across multiple platforms.

The lower middle-market focus also provides strategic advantages. Companies in Godspeed's target range often lack the resources and infrastructure to pursue aggressive growth strategies independently. Private equity partnership can provide not only capital but also operational expertise, acquisition capabilities, and strategic guidance—resources that prove particularly valuable in executing buy-and-build strategies.

The BNP-Airport Gurus combination arrives as global aviation infrastructure investment accelerates. Governments worldwide are committing substantial resources to airport modernization, driven by capacity constraints, aging facilities, and the need to enhance competitiveness in an increasingly connected global economy.

The U.S. infrastructure bill, European Union connectivity initiatives, and ambitious airport development programs across the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America are creating sustained demand for specialized aviation consulting services. This favorable market backdrop supports Godspeed's thesis that BNP can capture significant growth through both organic expansion and strategic acquisitions.

The integration of Airport Gurus' ICT and operations capabilities positions BNP to compete for larger, more complex engagements that require multidisciplinary expertise. As airports pursue comprehensive modernization programs rather than discrete projects, consultants who can deliver integrated solutions gain competitive advantage. BNP's expanded service portfolio—spanning master planning, design, engineering, supply chain optimization, security systems, and now ICT and operations planning—creates a differentiated value proposition in the market.

Geographic diversification also enhances BNP's growth prospects. While the firm has historically maintained strong presence in North American markets, Airport Gurus' European and South American footprint opens new avenues for expansion. Cross-selling opportunities abound: BNP can introduce its design and engineering services to Airport Gurus' European clients, while Airport Gurus can offer ICT expertise to BNP's North American customer base.

As BNP integrates its third acquisition in rapid succession, execution risk naturally increases. Successfully combining three distinct organizations—each with its own culture, systems, and client relationships—while maintaining service quality and employee retention requires careful management. The geographic dispersion of the combined entity, with offices spanning North America, Europe, and South America, adds complexity to integration efforts.

However, the strategic logic appears sound. Aviation infrastructure consulting remains fragmented, with numerous specialized firms serving discrete market segments. Platforms that can offer comprehensive capabilities while maintaining deep technical expertise in specialized domains are well-positioned to capture market share. BNP's rapid expansion under Godspeed ownership suggests the firm has identified a compelling consolidation opportunity and is moving aggressively to establish market leadership.

For Airport Gurus' founders and employees, the BNP partnership provides resources and scale to pursue larger opportunities while maintaining the specialized focus that has driven the firm's success. For BNP, the acquisition accelerates the platform's evolution into a truly global, full-service aviation consulting powerhouse. And for Godspeed Capital, the deal represents another step in executing a disciplined buy-and-build strategy in a sector where the firm has cultivated significant expertise.

As global aviation infrastructure investment continues to accelerate, the combined BNP-Airport Gurus platform appears well-positioned to capitalize on sustained industry tailwinds. Whether the aggressive acquisition pace continues or the focus shifts to integration and organic growth, the transaction underscores private equity's continued appetite for specialized professional services firms serving government and infrastructure markets.

The aviation consulting landscape is consolidating, and Godspeed Capital is placing a significant bet that BNP Group can emerge as a market leader.