AIRPORT MANAGEMENT ANTHONY JAMES A The time has come for airports to move on from mere ‘predict and provide’ masterplanning to something more futureproof Revision n airport masterplan should provide a clear roadmap for efficiently meeting forecast traffic demand through to the development horizon while preserving the flexibility necessary to respond to changing industry conditions. Airports without fully conceived masterplans that take into account future requirements risk developing infrastructure enhancements that are incompatible, incorrectly sized, poorly located or underutilized, resulting in wasteful capex or restrictions on overall capacity, as well as potential challenges in the courts relating to sustainability commitments. “In a nutshell, the masterplan is the vision for what the airport will look like in the future, from a space planning and infrastructure perspective,” explains Ross Dickie, head of masterplanning at London Heathrow Airport. At Passenger Terminal Conference in Frankfurt later this month, he will lead a discussion on how masterplanning is changing. Moving target Traditionally, airports have produced masterplans on a ‘predict and provide’ basis, with the forecast demand triggering the need for additional capacity development. At this year’s conference, Dickie will argue that this historical approach to masterplanning needs to broaden to accommodate factors such as existing asset age, sustainability objectives and future forms of aviation, to ensure greater robustness in uncertain times. plan www.PassengerTerminalToday.com 46 Passenger Terminal World APRIL 2024