Case study:

El Dorado International Airport

Certificate validation

Location:

Bogotá, Colombia

Blue Dot Badge

Project owner

Government of Colombia

Sector

Transport and logistics

Stage

Operations

Project impact in numbers

45.8 million

passengers annually – highest in Latin America

800,000 + tons

of cargo per year

80%

waste recovery from 5,700 + tons generated

73%

reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions since 2018

3,500 +

jobs created in 2024 alone

35,000 +

direct and indirect jobs supported

500 +

suppliers engaged, including local SMEs

Project overview & vision

El Dorado International Airport stands as a flagship Latin American aviation hub grounded in sustainability. Directed by four strategic pillars – “competitive”, “inclusive”, “planetary”, “transformative” - it showcases operational excellence, renewable energy, circular economy strategies, and community inclusion. With ambitious targets for carbon and plastic neutrality, and biodiversity net gain by 2028, El Dorado exemplifies resilient, sustainable infrastructure driving regional development.

Opain operates the airport under a 20-year concession focused on the modernisation, expansion, maintenance, and operation of the infrastructure. The concession model includes regular payments to the Colombian State through concession fees and taxes, while ensuring continuous investment in service quality, resilience, and sustainability.

Overview

Investors

Grupo Odinsa, Colombia

Macquarie Asset Management, Australia

Contractors

OPAIN S.A.

Project Timeline

Concession start

2007

Modernisation & expansion

2008-2019

Concession end

2027

BDN Certificate issued

24 April, 2025

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Innovations introduced

Innovations introduced

A lasting legacy for community

Legacy For Community

El Dorado International Airport delivers lasting social and economic benefits for surrounding communities through inclusive employment, skills development, and support for local businesses. Airport operations support more than 35,000 direct and indirect jobs, while El Dorado’s employment portal enabled over 3,500 job placements in 2024 alone, with a strong focus on youth and women in nearby districts including Fontibón, Engativá, and Funza.

Positive impact

Through the Pista de Oportunidades programme and annual scholarship schemes, the airport supports skills development and access to professional training, including around 600 scholarships each year for English language studies and vocational pathways. Local SMEs are actively engaged through procurement and regular entrepreneurship fairs hosted at the airport, providing small businesses with access to customers and income opportunities. Community environmental initiatives such as Plastic for Smiles, Ecomuros, and solar powered school programmes combine environmental awareness with tangible local benefits. The installation of 19 rainwater “ekowalls” supports cleaning activities and small-scale urban farming, reinforcing El Dorado’s role as an anchor institution for inclusive and sustainable local development.

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El Dorado International Airport - Blue Dot Network