Explain capacity planning and its importance to CM.

• A. Assess current and future capacity of airfield and terminal; identify bottlenecks and plan CIP accordingly.
• B. Determine salary scales for CM staff.
• C. Choose software to manage email newsletters.
• D. Schedule annual airport concerts.

Answer: (A)

Capacity planning focuses on evaluating how much demand the airport can handle now and in the future and aligning infrastructure and resources to meet that demand. For CM, this means assessing current and future capacity of the airfield and terminal, identifying bottlenecks, and planning the Capital Improvement Program accordingly. This matters because it turns demand forecasts into concrete investments that keep operations smooth, safe, and reliable as traffic grows. By pinpointing where capacity is tight—such as runway and taxiway throughput, terminal processing, gate availability, baggage handling, and security lanes—and scheduling CIP projects to relieve those constraints, CM professionals can prioritize investments, justify budgets, minimize delays, and improve passenger experience. Other options touch on HR salaries, marketing software, or event planning, which don’t address capacity planning in airport operations.