Airfield masterplanning and capex profiling at Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte, Brazil

In 2013 the Brazilian government sought bids for the concessions to operate both Galeao Airport in Rio de Janeiro and Confins Airport in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Both concession requirements set out for each airport were challenging as the country attempted to prepare for the influx of passengers for both the 2014 World Cup and the 2018 Olympics.

  • Ferrovial Aeropuertos
  • Steer; ADC; Fjori Ltd
  • Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte, Brazil
  • 2013
  • Airfield capacity analysis
  • Runway, taxiway, and stand planning
  • Terminal/gate integration
  • Airfield safeguarding
  • Boarding bridge integration
  • Capital expenditure planning
  • Asset maintenance profiling and expenditure planning
  • Concession risk assessment
  • Airfield capacity analysis was carried out using FAA techniques and source software, modified by Fjori to capture local country conditions. This approach permitted rapid appraisals of options without having to construct extensive network models.
  • Stand capacity/demand was based upon a blended technique including benchmarked passenger throughputs and FAA capacity evaluation methods allowing quick yet robust sensitivity analysis.
  • Use of Pathplanner Gate stand planning software in order to optimise stand layouts adjacent to existing terminals, avoiding extensive fixed bridge relocation.
  • Engineering concept for stands took into account local environmental aspects and the need to construct concrete within very high temperatures.
  • Planning of multiple parallel runway options in order to minimise construction cost impacts at Rio de Janeiro due to the proximity of the bay.
  • Full ICAO compliance review, including risk analysis of potential deviations from standard.

The anticipated growth in passenger movements and air transport movements at both airports demanded new runway infrastructure early into the concession periods. At Galeao the inclusion of a new parallel runway with suitable spacing yet without extensive construction into the bay was a considerable challenge, but a clever runway development programme was achieved.

Maximising the re-use of the two existing terminals at Galeao was an important factor and yet the terminals had to be planned such that they would be gradually reconfigured to accommodate an increasing level of international and long haul traffic. This gradual metamorphosis was reflected also on the stands and required careful stand planning in order to understand the level of disruption this would bring to the fixed links and passenger boarding bridge infrastructure.

At Confins airport, the location of the new parallel runway was driven by ICAO criteria and by the extremely undulating topography. In conjunction with Steer and ADC, Fjori helped to develop a financial model linked to intelligent infrastructure development triggers such that sensitivities in passenger growth development could be quickly understood and represented throughout the 25-30 year concessions.