El Dorado International Airport

Peaking and Capacity Analysis

The Grupo Operadora Aeroportuaria Internacional (OPAIN) concession proposed to the Government of Colombia to fully modernize and expand El Dorado International Airport. The main goal was to efficiently accommodate and support 16 million passengers and 1.5 million tons of cargo annually by the end of the 20-year planning horizon. A major portion of the improvements and modernization was to implement a new passenger terminal, Terminal 2, to handle international operations exclusively, while existing Terminal 1 becomes exclusive to domestic operations.

In order to assist in accomplishing the near-term terminal planning goals, OPAIN contracted our team to prepare a Verification and Analysis Report for the proposed Baggage Handling System (BHS) for Terminal 1. The analysis included an assessment of the accessibility and maneuverability of baggage tugs and carts accessing and maneuvering around the baggage carousels and included the preparation of recommendations for enhancing the BHS carousel layout. Services also included a detailed peaking and capacity analysis for the proposed Baggage Handling System which was prepared on an annual demand forecast.

Services provided include:

• A technical review of existing baggage carousel layout options.
• Proposed recommendations for alternative baggage carousel layouts.
• Simulation of real-time baggage tug/cart access and maneuvering in carousel areas for all development options utilizing Pathplanner™ software.
• BHS Peaking and Capacity Analysis using PaxSTAR™ predictive modeling software. BHS peaking characteristics were analyzed for 24-hour periods on an annual basis until the year 2011 in order to demonstrate the effects that the overall peaks will have on the BHS.
• Preparation of a BHS Verification and Analysis Report outlining all recommendations and results of the analysis.