Hi everyone,
I was recently asked to calculate the passengers of an airport in 1 year. I used the method of what I assume would be the bottom-up approach: # of runways, utilization of runways, opening hours airport, # of planes on runway, capacity planes and utilization of planes, etc. I got pretty close to the exact number, so I assume this was a good approach :)
However, could someone please explain to me how the top-down approach would look like? Would I start with the percentage of travellers flying for leisure/work etc.? And how would I proceed then?
Thanks a lot in advance!
Back to overview
30
Thank you very much Michal!!
Great insight, Michal! I'd still advise against using the demand side for this estimation, though. Mainly because of the type of assumptions one will have to make. For this case, and for any other estimation case where the supply side is the constraining factor, you have to go with a supply side estimation.
Calculation Airport Passengers in 1 year
1
7.0k
Be the first to answer!
Nobody has responded to this question yet.
Top answer
Ex-Bain consultant, got offers from McK, BCG, Bain. Now a Product Manager at a startup
Hi Franziska,
I'd try the following:
1. The population served by a particular airport (if there are several airports in an area, also assume an airport's share)
2. Based on personal experience, estimate the number of people flying for business and leisure (tough)
3. Estimate how many times a year they fly (easier)
As always with these cases, there are many ways to do it and this is just one. Also this top-down approach will be less accurate than what you came up with.
Hope it was helpful!
Best,
Michal
2 comments
F
Franziska
on May 18, 2017
Quirin
on May 19, 2017
Similar Questions
Most Popular Posts
Northwestern 4th Year Engineering Student Looking to Break into Consulting
11
on Apr 23, 2026
USA
10
100+
Top answer by
Tommaso
Coach
Ex-McKinsey | MBA @ Berkeley Haas | Finance&PE Case Expert | 50% off on 1st meeting in May (DM me for discount code!)
10 Answers
100+ Views
+7
BCG - how long to hear back from Round 1 & how to prepare for Round 2?
10
on Apr 23, 2026
Asia
7
200+
Top answer by
Franco
Coach
Ex BCG Principal & Global Interviewer (10+ Years) | 100+ MBB Offers | 95% Success Rate
7 Answers
200+ Views
+4
How to deal with long working hours?
15
on Apr 23, 2026
Global
10
300+
Top answer by
Ian
Coach
Top US BCG / MBB Coach - 5,000 sessions |Tech, Platinion, Big 4 | 9/9 personal interviews passed | 95% candidate success
10 Answers
300+ Views
+7
How to effectively structure a case?
11
on Apr 25, 2026
DACH
10
100+
Top answer by
Alessandro
Coach
McKinsey Senior Engagement Manager | Interviewer Lead | 1,000+ real MBB interviews | 2026 Solve, PEI, AI-case specialist
10 Answers
100+ Views
+7
First-Gen Student Prepping for Bain/McKinsey Assessments on a Budget
10
on Apr 25, 2026
Europe
9
100+
Top answer by
Samuel
Coach
Chief of Staff at Tech startup, previously at BCG TDA
9 Answers
100+ Views
+6