SPECIAL REPORT: BOGOTÁ
A work in progress W
hen it comes to privatisations, things don’t get much more complex than Bogotá–El Dorado International Airport, but with a new terminal being built and traffi c on the rise, the business model appears to be working.
The gateway’s 2006 privatisation was a little different to
others because concessionaire winner Operadora Aeroportuaria Internacional (Opain) – a consortium made up of Colombian construction and engineering companies – is only responsible for the management and development of the passenger terminal and cargo facilities. The task of operating and maintaining El Dorado’s runways and
taxiways is carried out by Codad, a subsidiary of Spanish transportation infrastructure giant Abertis. While the Colombian government, through the state-owned Civil
Aviation Authority, is responsible for air traffi c control services, runway lighting and the installation of radar, instrument landing systems and all other navigational aids at El Dorado. Under the terms of the concessions, Codad is entitled to all landing
fees and Opain makes its money from activities such as aircraft parking, passenger taxes and the use of airbridges to offi ce rental and shopping. The terms of Opain’s 20-year concession also states that it must
give 46.16% of its profi ts to the Colombian government. And as if that wasn’t complicated enough Opain – which paid the
Colombian government $650 million for the airport concession – has since signed a Technical Services Agreement (TSA) with the A-Port consortium to operate the airport on its behalf. A-Port is a joint venture set up two years ago by Zurich Airport and
South America’s Camargo Corrêa Group (Brazil) and Gestión e Ingeniería SA (Chile).
16 AIRPORT WORLD/AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2010
Bogotá–El Dorado International Airport’s Ralf Etzold talks to Joe Bates about the gateway’s development plans.
Confused yet? “It is a tough one to get your head around, but this is how
it is and we just get on with it,” laughs Bogotá–El Dorado International Airport’s chief operating offi cer, Ralf Etzold. Codad recently built a second runway and Opain is currently overseeing
the construction of a new terminal, based on a master plan that was drawn up in the year 2000 – six years before it became the concessionaire. Being constructed between the existing main passenger handling
complex and Avianca’s domestic terminal about 1.6 kilometres away, the fi rst phase of the new terminal is set to be completed in late 2011 ahead of a planned June 2012 opening. It will initially serve as El Dorado’s new international terminal before the
addition of two new concourses allows it to handle domestic traffi c. Avianca’s existing domestic facility will then be closed and today’s main terminal bulldozed. When the work is complete, El Dorado will be capable of
accommodating 16mppa and Opain will have spent a cool $1.1 billion upgrading its passenger facilities. The piece tag doesn’t include the money it has invested on new cargo infrastructure. “The new terminal will make a massive difference to passenger
satisfaction levels, the quality of service we are able to provide and operational effi ciency as the main facility we use today was built in 1951, and although there have been a lot of improvements since then, it has basically outlived its time,” admits Etzold. “We’re trying very hard, but we really don’t have much today in terms of
passenger facilities. The new terminal will change that. We will be able to develop a commercial strategy for the fi rst time and plan not only the exact number of retail and F&B outlets we want but who operates them and the merchandise they sell. It will be good for passengers and our revenues. We shall begin the RFP process for the concessionaires later this year.”
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