Airport capacity planning lecture 1 week 6

Terminal configuration
The layout of a terminal is a difficult choice. There are many needs from different types of
users. There are 5 basic configurations: Finger piers(2 airsides), Lineair piers(1 airside),
Satellites, Transporter and Midfield(lineair or X-shaped). The operational usage is centralized
or decentralized. It could be that more staff is needed. Most of the time, airports use
multiple shapes and make a hybrid. The performance depend on the overall traffic,
seasonality and transfers.
The advantage of lineair usage is the short walking distances for O&D and efficient taxi
operation. The disadvantage is it is not suitable for transfers(long walking distances)and it is
a decentralized concept.
The advantage of the midfield configuration is that is very efficient for aircraft parking and
taxiing and for transferring pax(as long as they need to be in the same concourse). The
disadvantages are need for and APM(automatic people mover) and the pax-
convenience(level changes).
Some key performance indicators are:
- Pax and bags throughput
- Handling rates
- Comfort levels
- MCT
- Common bottlenecks like queuing areas
- Flexibility of the building