This article presents a model for the economic value of adding capacity at airports. We start with an extensive literature review, discussing the main findings covering costs and revenues at airports, in particular related to their capacity. We then proceed to an analysis based on a wide range of data sources (financial, operational, quality of service) which have been synthesised into one database. The analysis itself yields interesting results, such as the presence of distinct types of airport and their characteristics. Broadly based on the knowledge gained from the data analysis, we describe a functional model describing the costs and revenues associated with an increase of capacity at an airport. We show how the model can be calibrated with data and present some preliminary results based on the calibration of Paris Charles de Gaulle airport
