Overview
Airport ground processes still contain a considerable potential for improvement of time efficiency. Studies from Eurocontrol Performance Review Commission prove that insufficient punctuality in air transport results mainly from variance in off-block times. This leads to poor predictability and sizeable inefficiencies throughout the whole air transport system.
The aim of the project was to develop and assess solutions for airport process improvement in terms of time efficiency regarding both, passenger process and aircraft turnaround in an integrated approach. Therefore, representatives of nearly all directly or indirectly involved stakeholders (airports, airlines, aircraft manufacturers, technological suppliers, security service providers etc.) gathered to work together on this project. Elaboration of potential solutions comprised compilation of currently discussed solution approaches (e.g. CDM, Total Airport Management etc.) as well as development of new opportunities focussing on three main process chains:
- Passenger processes
- Baggage processes
- Aircraft turnaround processes
Emphasis was placed on identifying those solutions achieving the most promising target contribution instead of going into details of a certain approach.
The project started analysing the current way of operations at airports. For this, among others, carrier companies, airport authorities and security staff have been interviewed. Problems and inefficiencies have been identified. Following that, two models of typical behaviour and operations have been designed. Real data has been used as model input. In cooperation with stakeholders, a huge number of ideas for improving operations have been developed.
Funding
Results
Several ideas for improvement have been developed. Here only two are mentioned. One of the improved suggestions concerned luggage handling: instead of a traveller bringing his/her suitcases to the airport, the suitcases could be collected at the traveller's address a day before. So for example overweight can be dealed with beforehand, and thus does not lead to delays when checking-in at the airport. Another suggestion concerned boarding an airplane. This can be done more effciently, and valuable time can be saved. Currently passengers all enter the airplane through the same door. But it would be more efficient to use multiple airplane doors for entry, and lining up passengers at these doors based on their row number.
Innovation aspects
The project has resulted in various innovative ideas for the improvement of ground processes.
Technical Implications
Carrier companies include some additional time into their planning, to compensate for small disruptions. For example: a passenger who reports too late at the boarding gate. Often carrier companies plan 15 to 30 minutes for such disruptions. However, this brings additional costs to airline carriers. Operational improvements reduces such embedded slack time, and thus saves money to carriers.
Policy objectives
An efficient and integrated mobility system: service quality and reliablity