Bogota El Nuevo Dorado (BOG) Airport

Bogota El Dorado International Airport BOG is South America's third-largest airport in terms of passenger traffic, and also has the world's third-largest landing field with 6.9 square km for any type of aircraft. Half of the Airport's air traffic is derived from international flights. The Airport has experienced tremendous and consistent passenger growth and its passenger count has more than doubled in the last decade. Opaine S.A. is the official operator of the airport  (tel. ++57 (1) 266-2000)

The Airport is located 15 km northwest from the city center of Bogota, Colombia, S.A, and is accessible from downtown Bogota via motorway Avenida El Dorado 26.

The city of Bogota has slowly shed its bad reputation and in recent years made tremendous strife in terms of security. It is a city well worth visiting, with a rich history and culture, friendly people and a great landscape surrounding it. Two national parks are within a short drive from the Airport: Chingaza to the East and Sumapaz to the South.

With two very long runways and an estimated 22.5 million passengers in 2012, Bogota El Dorado International is hub to flag carrier Avianca, and to Copa Colombia, Aires, & Satena airlines, and is served by numerous international airlines offering direct and connecting flights to all points of the globe.
 

Passengers to/from the United States:  Be warned that Airport Security check is courteous, but very thorough - arrive at least 2.5 hrs, if not 3 hours before scheduled flight as you will pass a few searches along your way to boarding, and the lines can be long - be prepared and keep your cool. 
Transfer Passengers:  When transferring between the Puente Aerea and the El Dorado terminals and time is of the essence,  take a taxi; otherwise take the free shuttle bus, which may take a while to come around; the actual trip takes only 10 minutes.

The exit tax for international travelers is approximately $34, and there is an extra revenue stamp charge if they stay longer than two months in Colombia.

Bogota El Nuevo Dorado Airport has at present two passenger terminals - the El Dorado and the Puente Aereo.  North of the El Dorado terminal a new 'Terminal 2' is under construction, but will, upon completion by 2014, merge with the El Dorado terminal. Both El Dorado & Puente Aereo are one kilometer apart, served by a free shuttle bus

The Puente Aereo Terminal is privately owned (tel. 425-1000 ext. 3218), has 14 gates, and has an airline lounge. It handles mainly domestic Avianca & SAM (its subsidiary) flights, as well as some flights to New York and Miami. 

NOTE: For international departures, it is advisable to arrive at the El Dorado terminal three hours prior to scheduled departure; for domestic departures two hours.

The El Dorado Terminal has a national & an international concourse. The ground level is for Arrivals and includes the baggage claim area and information counter; level 1 has the airline counters for ticketing and check-in, and security check leading to the Concourses and gates. The national concourse has 16 gates, five of which are for regional flights, and the international concourse has nine gates.  A new international pier opened August 2012.
Until 2014, the 50-year old terminal is steadily expanding and is being upgraded to meet the ever-inceasing amount of passengers.

The new 'Terminal 2' under construction and to be completed by 2014  is to merge with the El Dorado terminal, which will then be a new, single terminal with integrated domestic & international air traffic.  An elevated road will take international departing passengers to level 3. 
Level 1: Arrivals level, baggage claim, commercial area, remote waiting hall and offices.
Level 2: Arrivals Gallery, boarding points, immigration, transfer points.
Level 3: Departures Hall, security check, immigration, commercial zone, waiting hall.
Level 4: Mezzanine with commerical area, administrrave offices, international VIP lounge.
Level 5: Observation area and offices.

International Arrivals at the El Dorado Terminal need to go through DAS immigration check  (equivalent of U.S. TAS) , located in the tunnel near the first level of the International area, stating their reason for their trip & present boarding pass and passport, vaccination certificate & visas (which they should put safely away right thereafter). Then passengers pick up their bags in the baggage area, pay their fees, and hand in their completed customs form. Finally passengers go through another security check with their bags. 

Amenities and services inside the Terminal: La plazoleta de comidas - or a food court - is on level 2 at the north side of the National Concourse, and limited food & drink is available after the duty-free shops.  The 'In Bond' area on level 2, after DAS immigration check, offers tax-free merchandise.  Telephone cards can be obtained on level 2 of the National concourse at the Orbitel booth. Currency exchange offices are located in the international arrivals and domestic arrivals areas, there is also a money exchange on level 1, next to door 4.
The domestic arrivals area has a left luggage service; fee is to be paid in pesos. 

Parking options at Bogota Airport include parking in shaded, semi-shaded and exposed areas of the large parking lot surrounding the terminal complex. 

Rental car offices are located in both Terminals 1 & 2 and can be contacted at 6090019.

To get from the Airport to your destination you can rent a car, take a taxi, a shuttle bus or a bus:

1. Taxis: When heading for the city, it is best to use an airport-approved taxi. If you give the attendants at the taxi booth the address where you want to go, they write down on a piece of paper the taxi fare. If the driver asks for more money after arrival, just ignore him/her.
Shuttle buses (Bus Satelite) make their rounds starting at Terminal 1, proceeding to the bus station, cargo terminal, Civil Aironautical building,  then turing around to the Puente peatonal Cra.103; terminal Puente Areo, Terminal 2; Bus station & back to Terminal 2.

2. The new TransMilenio line is to connect the Airport to the City's mass transportation system; it should be now or in the near future operational.