El Dorado becomes first Latin American airport to launch A-CDM system
May 25, 2025
Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport has taken a regional lead in airport operations by becoming the first in Latin America to deploy a full Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM) system.
The technology, developed in partnership with global air transport IT provider SITA and implemented by airport operator OPAIN, is designed to enhance the accuracy of aircraft turnaround predictions and improve operational efficiency.
The system works by improving the exchange of real-time data between key airport stakeholders – airlines, ground handlers, and air traffic controllers – enabling better coordination of airport resources.
The result is smoother aircraft movement on the ground, reduced fuel consumption, fewer delays, and improved punctuality.
“El Dorado has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years, positioning us as one of Latin America’s busiest airports,” said Natali Leal, CEO of OPAIN.
“This rapid expansion brings challenges in maintaining operational efficiency and punctuality. Implementing the A-CDM system allows us to address these challenges head-on by having better coordination among all stakeholders.
“This collaborative approach is essential for strengthening the passenger experience and making sure our growth is sustainable.”
SITA’s tools integrated at El Dorado include the Pre-Departure Sequencer, Airport Management System, and Operations Manager, all aimed at simplifying complex airport operations and supporting more reliable scheduling and resource deployment.
“Airports across Latin America are navigating a landscape of rapid growth and increasing complexity,” said Shawn Gregor, President of SITA Americas.
“Regional air traffic is expected to reach 773 million passengers by the end of 2024, a 5.5% increase over the previous year, according to ACI-LAC. With this, there’s an urgent need for solutions that strengthen efficiency and resilience.
“Technologies like A-CDM are key in meeting these demands, allowing airports to optimize operations, reduce environmental impact, and improve the overall travel experience.
“Supporting El Dorado in setting a new standard for airport management is a big step for both the airport and the region as a whole.”
A-CDM is already well established at many major airports in Europe, where it has produced measurable gains: reducing aircraft taxi time by over 26,000 minutes annually, slashing delays by 2,000 minutes a year, and delivering fuel savings upwards of 360,000 kg.
EUROCONTROL data has shown that such coordination cuts the average deviation between scheduled and actual take-off time from 14 minutes to just 5–7 minutes, while also enabling air traffic controllers to handle more flights in congested skies, by as much as 3.5%.
