Airport Master Planning

Introduction - Provides guidance to stakeholders on

airport access requirements and
All airports should develop a master plan in order to
connectivity with landside access.
guide future infrastructure development programs
▪ Airport master plans should be prepared by
in a logical, sustainable and efficient manner.
specialized teams with global experience, and a
Airports that lack a master plan or vision of the proven history of delivering plans that enable all
future risk developing capacity enhancements that stakeholders to expand their operations in a
are incompatible, misconceived, incorrectly sized profitable manner.
and poorly located, resulting in wasteful capex or
▪ Applies best practice design and planning
restrictions in overall capacity.
guidelines will help to inform master plan
Master plans should be designed and planned as concepts and options. Refer to IATA’s Airport
cost-efficiently as possible and aligned with Development Reference Manuel 12th Edition
industry best practices to achieve the ultimate and IATA World Class Airports Position Paper.
development potential of the airport. ▪ Is able to accommodate changes in traffic type
and the business environment over time e.g.
Master plans should be fully consulted upon with
expansion based on modular, incremental
stakeholders and agreed with the airline community
design principles.
before proceeding. This is in recognition of the fact
▪ Master plans should be reviewed every 5 years
that the success of airlines will ensure the
or more regularly as required by market
economic benefits for all parties are maximized.
developments.
Successful Master Plan Managing Constraints
A successful plan guides the orderly and timely
Airport Master Plans need to manage constraints
development of the airport to meet current and
early in the planning process. Some of the most
future air traffic demand. It should define a
common constraints include:
development program that meets the needs of the
airport and airlines. A successful master plan: ▪ Past developments that impact future planning.
▪ Surrounding terrain or human infrastructure.
▪ Outlines a phasing plan detailing the
▪ Environmental regulations that restrict runway
incremental expansion of facilities until the
use, and operating hours.
ultimate capacity is met, with minimum
▪ Inadequate land in reserve or is too expensive
disruption to existing operations.
or difficult to acquire.
▪ Satisfies all planning regulations and
▪ A lack of political support for the role of
overcomes environmental constraints.
aviation.
▪ Documents and mitigates issues facing the
airport. Master Planning Process
▪ Is based on a process of consultation and
A structured planning process is essential to
transparency resulting in a master plan agreed
develop a viable and credible master plan that is
between all key stakeholders.
informed by stakeholder inputs throughout.
▪ Is aligned and informed by airline strategies.
▪ Guides land use in the surrounding area of the IATA has developed a best practice,
airport: comprehensive step by step master plan process
- Protects the airport from encroachment by (see Appendix A – IATA Master Plan Process for an
incompatible land uses. overview).

1 Airport Master Planning

The proposed steps and the key activities ▪ Fleet development, aircraft types and impacts
undertaken during those steps include: ▪ Airport market position e.g. origin and
destination, transfers, catchment areas.
Pre-Planning
Development of Options
▪ Identifying objectives.
▪ Identifies options for each major airport
▪ Scoping the effort and determining the scale
component e.g. airspace, airfield, passenger
and requirements of the master plan.
and cargo terminals, support facilities, access.
▪ Determining consultant terms of reference
▪ Develops evaluation criteria to assess options.
▪ Establishing financial thresholds and funding,
▪ Shortlists alternatives.
including the maximum level of affordable
▪ Conducts a detail financial and requirements
investment.
analysis of options.
Air traffic/Demand ▪ Refines concepts.
▪ Forecasting future aircraft movements, ▪ Selects preferred, optimized master plan
passenger and cargo traffic. option.
▪ Reviewing historical activity. ▪ Prepares the development plan based on the
▪ Identifying trends. recommended alternative for the short,
medium and long term.
Site Evaluation/Inventory ▪ Establishes a preliminary 10-year capital
▪ Inventory of existing physical and operational investment program.
characteristics. ▪ Develops a phasing plan.
▪ Assessment of current facility in terms of their
capacity, constraints and condition. Financial Assessment
▪ Estimate capital costs and how these will be
Requirements Analysis financed and funded.
▪ Determines airlines strategic and functional ▪ Ensure airport charges are affordable based on
needs including growth plans, operational and a positive business case for investment
passenger needs. supported by airport users.
▪ Compares existing facilities to current and
forecast demand. Reporting and Deliverables
▪ Identifies floor areas/footprint/plot sizes to ▪ Finalize and publish the written master plan
inform incremental expansion and the ultimate report including all necessary graphic support.
development. Related documentation
▪ Establishes demand levels that will trigger
facility expansion. ▪ Appendix A – Master Plan Process (Airport
▪ Considers relative priorities for expansion. Development Reference Manual 12th Edition).
▪ Checks compliance with industry safety and ▪ IATA Airport Development Reference Manual
design standards. 12th Edition
▪ IATA World Class Airports position paper.
Strategic Choices
▪ ICAO Document 9184 Airport Planning Manual.
Identifies primary strategic choices including: ▪ ICAO Annex 14, Vol. 1 Aerodrome Design and
Operation.
▪ Government aviation policy.
▪ Environmental constraints.
▪ Home base airline / alliances / partnerships
strategies.

2 Airport Master Planning