Description
We are seeking an Airport Planning Consultant to contribute to concept-level airport planning, functional spatial design, and design-focused project support across major aviation projects.
The successful candidate will support the development of future airport designs by contributing to the delivery of high-quality planning and operational solutions that improve efficiency, passenger experience, and sustainability.
The Consultant will work as a valued member of the Middle East Aviation team, assisting in project delivery activities and contributing to the preparation of innovative and efficient planning and design outputs.
Responsibilities
- Support the delivery of various project workstreams, with an initial focus on contributing to the development of the Concept of Operations for DWC Phase2.
- Assist in conducting analytical assessments of airport operations, including traffic profiles, flight schedules, dwell times, and operational KPIs.
- Contribute to the preparation and interpretation of capacity and Level of Service (LoS) assessments for terminal, airside, apron, landside, and support facilities.
- Support the development of multi-scenario demand forecasts for passengers, aircraft, cargo, and general aviation operations.
- Assist in building and running simulation models (CAST, AirTOP, AviPlan, or equivalent) to assess flow performance, system efficiency, and operational resilience.
- Translate modelling outputs into clear insights and planning inputs under the guidance of senior team members.
- Ensure data inputs, modelling assumptions, and analysis workflows are documented, validated, and traceable.
- Contribute analytical inputs to airport masterplanning activities and long-term strategic studies.
- Support the definition of functional and spatial requirements for terminals, airside, landside, and support facilities in line with demand, ConOps principles, and regulatory standards.
- Assist in evaluating planning options, phasing strategies, expansion triggers, and performance trade-offs.
Design-Focused Project Support & Tender Preparation
- Support proposal preparation by contributing planning methodologies, scopes, level-of-effort estimates, case studies, and modelling insights that strengthen aviation bids.
- Contribute to enhancing WSP's internal planning practice by refining templates, improving analytical workflows, and sharing practical lessons learned from projects.
Qualifications
- A degree in Aviation Planning, Transport/Civil/Industrial Engineering, Architecture, Aviation Management, or a related discipline.
- 3–5 years of experience in airport planning, capacity assessment, forecasting, simulation modelling, or airport masterplanning.
- Proficiency in analytical modelling, scenario development, and data interpretation, supported by strong Excel skills and familiarity with AutoCAD/GIS.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present technical findings to clients, multidisciplinary teams, and senior stakeholders.
Technical & Industry Knowledge
- Working knowledge of ICAO, FAA, IATA, and aviation regulatory requirements.
- Experience with terminal planning concepts, passenger flow optimization, and airport simulation modelling.
- Good understanding of digital tools including: AutoCAD, BIM, Revit, GIS, AviPLAN, CAST, and other airport design tools.
- Hands-on experience with airport simulation and analytical tools (e.g., CAST, AirTOP, AviPlan) and the ability to convert model outputs into clear planning insights.
- Ability to assist in conducting and interpreting capacity and Level of Service (LoS) assessments across terminal, airside, apron, landside, and support facilities.
Regional & Sector Expertise
- Familiarity with the Middle East aviation sector and regional regulatory requirements