Colombia
2.2.1 Colombia El Dorado International Airport
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Airport Overview

El Dorado International Airport is the main airport in Colombia. It is located 13.35 kilometers to the west of El Centro (Plaza de Bolívar) Bogota, between the towns of Fontibón and Engativá. At the El Dorado Airport there are 30 international airlines, 6 domestic airlines and 18 cargo airlines. Currently the airport handles an average of 36 million passengers and 820 thousand tons per year.

In rainy seasons, there are phenomena such as fog and incidents with some aircraft, which generates temporary closures in operations, for this reason, authorization was requested from the National Environmental Licensing Agency (ANLA) for the expansion of the operation of the El Dorado airport after eleven o'clock at night in the west - east direction, to allow a greater number of takeoffs.

El Dorado Airport is the one that transports the most cargo in the country with 820 thousand tons per year and is currently the airport with the highest cargo movement in Latin America.

Airport Location and Contact

Country

Colombia

Province or District

Bogotá D.C. Cundinamarca

Nearest Town or City with Distance from Airport

Bogotá (5 km)

Airport’s Complete Name

Aeropuerto Internacional El Dorado

Latitude

4.701389

Longitude

-74.14694

Elevation (ft and m)

2.548 m / 8.360 feet

IATA Code

BOG

ICAO Code

SKBO

Managing Company or Airport Authority

Grupo Operadora Aeroportuaria internacional S.A. (OPAIN)

Management Contact Person

Andrés Ortega Rezk

Open From (hours)

24H

Open To (hours)

24H

Airport Picture

Description and Contacts of Key Companies

The main Colombian entities and authorities operating at the El Dorado Airport are:

  • Civil Aviation. Civil Aeronautics works to guarantee the orderly development of civil aviation, the airline industry and the safe use of Colombian airspace, facilitating intermodal transportation and contributing to the improvement of the country's competitiveness.
  • Aero health. Airport Health, the place where medical emergencies at El Dorado Airport are treated.
  • ITRC. The ITRC agency oversees the integrity of the collection process and the administration of assets, income, taxes and parafiscal contributions made by DIAN, UGPP and COLJUEGOS. In turn, this agency is in charge of protecting the money and resources of Colombians, strengthening the three monitored entities, in order to generate greater income for the Nation.
  • DIAN. The Special Administrative Unit Directorate of National Taxes and Customs,
  • Anti-narcotics Directorate.
  • Fontibón Hospital. The new and modern facilities of approximately 56m², has two basic areas: the first, vaccination for travelers, and the second, offices for the personnel in charge of carrying out the inspection, surveillance and control work at the Airport.
  • Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario (ICA). The procedures with the Institution will be carried out in the Cargo Administrative Center (CAC), pets in crates in office 23 and the Phyto and zoosanitary inspections in the cargo holds.
  • Migration Colombia.
  • OPAIN S.A. is a company incorporated with the sole objective of managing, modernizing, commercially developing, expanding, operating and maintaining the El Dorado International Airport.

Some of the private companies that provide services at El Dorado Airport are:

  • Avianca It is the commercial brand that represents the Latin American airlines integrated in Avianca Holdings S.A., which has been highlighted for its excellence in service. With airlines specialized in passenger and cargo transport, it directly serves more than 100 destinations in 28 countries in America and Europe aboard a modern fleet of 180 short, medium and long-range aircraft. Additionally, it flies to 1,300 destinations in 192 countries on five continents.
  • Avianca Cargo, formerly Tampa Cargo, is a Colombian cargo airline with operations in the American continent, which it operates mainly from Bogotá and Miami. Currently Avianca Cargo operates as a subsidiary of Avianca previously called Tampa Cargo and has a codeshare agreement on all routes where it operates for the use of its aircraft holds.
  • Copa Airlines. Panama international airline, flies to 74 destinations in 31 countries in North, Central, South America and the Caribbean. In addition, the airline maintains a strategic alliance with the American company United Airlines. Copa Airlines has a strategic business unit in Colombia that will provide logistics solutions in cargo transportation, safely, efficiently and with high quality standards in processes.
  • LATAM It is a Colombian commercial passenger airline and a subsidiary of LATAM Airlines that covers national and international destinations from its headquarters at the El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá and from the main cities of that country. It is the second largest airline in Colombia by total passenger traffic with about 23% of the domestic market as of December 2015.3 It has a large presence in Latin America, one of its most desired attributes being the capillarity of its network. This allows the company to offer a great connection to, from and within the region. The portfolio includes highly specialized treatments, such as PHARMA, for the transport of pharmaceutical products; ALIVE, for the transport of live animals; o PROTECT, for vulnerable shipments ”.

Passenger and Cargo Performance Indicator

El Dorado is the largest airport in the country, there are mobilized 50 thousand passengers daily, with an average of 800 flights. In addition, 48% of the total passenger mobilization in Colombia is concentrated in this air terminal. El Dorado is the most critical hub in Colombia because it handles 33% of air operations, which means that 40% of Colombia's domestic passengers pass through Bogotá daily and approximately 78% of internationals also pass through the capital city.

Performance for 2019


Per Year

Per Month

Per Day

Total Aircraft Movements

312,087 (take off + landings)

26,007 (+-)

867

Total Passengers

17’819,479 (Intl + domestic)

1’484,956

49,489

Total Capacity of the Airport (MT)

n/a



Current Activity of the Airport (MT)

n/a



Current use by Humanitarian Flights (UNHAS)

No

-

-

El Dorado International Airport has a huge infrastructure divided into several sectors: cargo terminals TC1 (24,797 square meters), TC2 (23,624 square meters), and TC3 (18,129 square meters) are the main buildings, to which it is added the Administrative Center of Cargo (6,328 square meters). In total, there are 72,880 square meters of construction.

Inside are the space holders, companies that lease the area offered by OPAIN. Today they number 69 and make use of 10 cold rooms that total 9,350 square meters, 16 warehouses and 214 vehicle docks. The Bogotá cargo terminal has occupied 100% of its warehouse space and 80% of its office space, which is a reflection of how this enormous building has a high strategic value for the national economy.

Runways

The runway is fully paved and with excellent signaling and lighting conditions.

Runway #1   13L/31R

Runway Dimensions

3,800 m x 45 m

Orientation

134 / 314

Surface

Paved

The runway is fully paved and with excellent signaling and lighting conditions. Takeoffs and landings are restricted between 03:01 am and 10:59 am because this runway is very close to a residential neighborhood.

Runway #2    13R/31L

Runway Dimensions

3.800 x 45 m

Orientation

134 / 314

Surface

Paved

Helicopter Pad(s)

There are currently no heliports at El Dorado Airport. Therefore, for the takeoff maneuver or for the culmination of the approach maneuver, helipoints (called: Alpha, Beta, Charlie, Delta and Echo) are established within the movement area. from the airfield. The airspace of the city of Bogotá maintains visual corridors for the routing of traffic and on helicopter flights called KOPTER. (KOPTER 1, 2, 3, 4, 5). Due to Civil Aeronautics regulations, helicopters may only fly during the day, that is, from 6:30 in the morning to 5:00 in the afternoon.

At El Dorado International Airport, the taxiways and / or security zones are used for landing helicopters on VFR flights, likewise the taxiways are planned for both airplanes and helicopters in order to allow the taxiing on the surface of helicopters by their own motive power, therefore the specifications regarding taxiways, taxiway margins and taxiway strips that appear in the Colombian Aeronautical Regulations also apply to helicopters, in addition to the operating restrictions of the same.

Take-off and landing procedures

Helicopters departing:

  1. The pilot will call on the corresponding Surface Control frequency to request towing instructions from the respective hangar or parking position to the nearest SPOT.
  2. Established in the SPOT, it will request taxi instructions or air taxi to the nearest helipoint in order to carry out the takeoff maneuver.
  3. The taxiing will be carried out following taxiways and without overflying other aircraft, vehicles or infrastructure.

Note: Each helicopter operator / operator is responsible for establishing the procedures for air displacements when applicable, according to the existing dimensions of the taxiways and access roads to parking positions, as well as determining the minimum separation margins between their helicopters. in a parking space and an object or any aircraft.

Helicopters landing:

  1. Upon settling down at the helipoint, the pilot will establish contact on the corresponding Surface Control frequency to request air taxi instructions to the closest SPOT to the destination parking post or hangar.
  2. It will proceed towing from the SPOT, to the respective hangar or parking place.

Likewise, it is forbidden for civil helicopters to stay overnight at the aerodrome except those authorized with MEDEVAC, SAR, HOSP, STATE, among others that have the authorization to operate based at El Dorado Airport.

Airport Infrastructure Details

Customs

Yes

JET A-1 fuel

Yes

Immigration

Yes

AVGAS 100

Yes

Terminal Building

Yes

Single Point Refueling

Yes

Passenger Terminal

Yes

Air Starter Units

Yes

Cargo terminal

Yes

Ground Power (mobile)

Yes

Pax Transport to Airfield

Yes

Ground Handling Services

Yes

Control Tower

Yes

Latrine Servicing

Yes

Weather Facilities

Yes

Fire Fighting Category (ICAO)

Yes

Catering Services

Yes

De-icing Equipment

No

Base Operating Room

Yes

Parking Ramp Lighting

Yes

Airport Radar

Yes

Approach & Runway Lights

Yes

NDB

Yes

VOR

Yes

ILS

Yes



Airport Operating Details

Operating Details

Maximum Sized Aircraft that can be Offloaded on Bulk Cargo

ICAO Category C or lower. Category E, F (with takeoff limitation).

Maximum Sized Aircraft that can be Offloaded on Pallet

ICAO Category C or lower. Category E, F (with takeoff limitation).

Total Aircraft Parking Area (m²)

373,600 m²

Storage Area (m3 and MT)

142,000 m²

Handling Equipment

Elevators / Hi Loaders

Yes

Max Capacity (MT)

14.96

Max Height (m)


Loading Ramps

Yes

Other Comments

The new cargo terminal comprises: 207,000 m2 of platforms and access roads; 71,000 m2 for warehouses and offices; 63 docks for aerial operation; 25 parking positions for any type of aircraft that can be loaded or unloaded simultaneously; 50,000 m2 in consolidation areas; 1,000 m2 for quarantine areas of the Colombian Agricultural Institute - ICA, and 7,000 m2 for the administrative cargo center.

Customs Guidance

In accordance with Article 90 of Decree 2685 of 1999, all means of transport that reach the national customs territory must arrive at the places authorized by the National Tax and Customs Directorate (DIAN). The transporter or airport agent that has warehouses in the places of arrival for the transitory handling of cargo must obtain the respective authorization of the place by the DIAN in accordance with the provisions of Decree 390 of 2016. Once the merchandise arrives, the travel documents are received and registered, the merchandise is presented to the customs authority. It is understood by merchandise presented, that of foreign origin related in the cargo manifest (air waybill) that have the authorization of entry made by the Civil Aeronautics. The Information of the Cargo Manifest is presented through the Electronic Computer Services and must correspond at least to the following data:

  1. Identification of the means of transport
  2. Travel data, such as:
    1. Origin of the goods.
    2. Destination place.
    3. Weight and total quantity of cargo units to be transported.
    4. Transport document numbers.
    5. Number of packages, weight.
    6. The indication of consolidated cargo,

The information of the transport documents that is presented through the electronic computer services, regarding the transport documents and consolidators, must contain at least the following data:

  1. NIT of the consignee (other than that of the temporary or customs warehouse)
  2. Tariff subheading
  3. Type of load
  4. Number and date of the transport document or the consolidating document
  5. Quantity of packages, weight and volume, as appropriate
  6. Identification of the load unit, when applicable
  7. general description of the merchandise
  8. Other characteristics of the transportation contract as required by DIAN.

The carrier must deliver the information of the travel documents, through electronic computer services, with a minimum anticipation of 3 hours before the arrival of the means of transport, by air.

At the time of the arrival of the means of transport to the national customs territory, the transporter or his representative will report such fact, through electronic computer services. Upon receipt of the arrival notice, DIAN will authorize the unloading of the merchandise. For customs purposes, the date of arrival of the merchandise to the national customs territory will be that of the acknowledgment of receipt of the arrival notice through electronic computer services.

The merchandise unloaded at the airport will remain under the responsibility of the carrier or the international freight agent, as the case may be, until its delivery to the multimodal transport operator or to the consignee, either the authorized warehouse, the declarant, the customs agency, or the user operator of the free zone in which the user whose name is registered is located, or to whom the transport document is endorsed.

Finally, in the recognition procedure, the conformity between the cargo and the information contained in the travel documents and the documents that support the commercial operation will be verified, as well as compliance with the requirements set forth in special regulations, without prejudice to the power to practice the diligence of gauging on the merchandise, when the Directorate of National Taxes and Customs determines it.

Once the unloading completion report has been submitted, the goods are delivered to a temporary warehouse or a free zone where the user in whose name it is consigned is located or the transport document is endorsed within the following 2 business days .

At that time, the import declaration (DUA) is presented in the DIAN computer system and acceptance is given; Next, customs taxes are settled and paid in bank or by electronic transfer. Subsequently, with the confirmation of payment of the declaration in the system, the release of the merchandise is requested in this same medium. The lift can lead to physical or automatic inspection; if it is the first, the DIAN inspector must confirm that the physical merchandise agrees with what is stated in the documents to finally issue the release and free disposal of the merchandise. If it is automatic, the release and free disposition are obtained immediately.


Storage Facilities

The airport has 3 warehouse areas in the cargo terminals, TC1 with 24,797m2, TC2 has 23,624 m2, and TC 3 with 18,129 m2 additionally adds the Administrative Center of Cargo with 6,328 m2, in total they are 72,880 square meters of construction.

Inside are the space holders, companies that lease the area offered by OPAIN. Today they number 69 and make use of 10 cold rooms that total 9,350 square meters, 16 warehouses and 214 vehicle docks. The Bogotá cargo terminal has occupied 100% of its warehouse space and 80% of its office space

Airfield Costs

Navigation Charges

Charges

Aircraft Weight - MTOW (kg)*


0 - 7,000

7,001 - 136,000

136,001 and over

Navigation (per journey) USD - $

80

370

0.00058/kg

Landing USD - $

Included in airfare rates

Included in airfare rates

Included in airfare rates

Night Landing USD - $

 5% surcharge from 18:00 to 06:00

5% surcharge from 18:00 to 06:00

5% surcharge from 18:00 to 06:00

Night Take-Off USD - $

5% surcharge from 18:00 to 06:00

5% surcharge from 18:00 to 06:00

5% surcharge from 18:00 to 06:00

Parking

1.95 after 3 hrs.

1.95 after 3 hrs.

0.00029 after 3 hrs

Handling Charges

n/a

n/a

n/a

* Prices are referential, values may vary

Fuel Service Charges

Refueling at El Dorado Airport is carried out by a fuel hydrant system with a supply capacity of 100 gallons per minute, in national, international and cargo platforms. In addition, it has a supply system with tank vehicles, with capacities of 10000-9600-6000-5000-3000 and 2500 gallons. The fuel supply is carried out by private companies such as Terpel and Energizar Aviación and operates 24 hours a day.


Price per US Gallon USD - $

Jet A-1

US 3,57*

Avgas

US 3,77*

* Prices are referential, values may vary

Cargo Terminal Charges

Import Charges

Type of Charge

Rate USD - $ per kg

Comments

Handling Charge

0.78 /kg

Min. rate US$ 35

Break Bulk Fee

1.8/kg

n/a

Diplomatic Mail

n/a

n/a

Strong Room – per consignment

n/a

n/a

Cold Storage Fee

n/a

n/a

Delivery Outside Normal Working Hours

0.1/kg

n/a

Preparation of substitute AOA – Invoice – Receipt

40

n/a

Storage per Day

n/a

48 hrs grace period

Export Charges

Handling Charges – Un-palletized Cargo

45

n/a

International Air Waybill

35

n/a

Local Air Waybill

25

n/a

Air Way Bill Amendment – Cancellation

28

n/a

Air Way Bill Documentation

n/a

n/a

Diplomatic Mail

0.20 /kg

Min US$ 40

Storage Charges per Day

n/a

n/a

Air-bridge Charges

For the use of the boarding bridges of the international piers in the airports administered by AEROCIVIL, they must pay a fee of USD $ 112. The boarding bridges of the national piers in the airports will pay a rate of 6 daily legal minimum wages in force (66SMLDV).

Security 

The entire airport, including the cargo area, is monitored by a state-of-the-art closed-circuit television: from special security rooms to controlling activities related to the movement of people. State-of-the-art scanners supervised by special security personnel are found in the departure, arrival, flight connection, entry and exit areas of personnel working at the airport. El Dorado Airport reinforces its security with more than 700 cameras, The contribution of camera technology is very important in the operation of the Airport because it has reliability, security and video availability, which allows making operational and security decisions in a timely manner, complying with operating regulations.


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