Abstract
This paper presents an evaluation of the influence of aircraft configuration on the boarding and deboarding times using a simplified model and computer simulation. Boarding and deboarding times are important to airlines since both procedures are part of the critical path of the turnaround time (TAT) of aircraft in airports. During the TAT, a series of activities are performed in the aircraft in order to prepare it for the next flight. A reduction in boarding and deboarding times may represent a reduction in TAT for airlines. For the comparisons, three aircraft configurations are used: single aisle 3 × 3 (“six abreast”), single aisle 3 × 2 (“five abreast”), and single aisle 2 × 2 (“four abreast”), all with the same number of passengers. For the boarding analyses, two boarding procedures are used: random and random outside-in. The 2 × 2 aircraft interior configuration holds the shortest boarding times; deboarding times are similar for the three configurations. Also, a sensitivity analysis is carried out, and the results show that the higher the aircraft occupancy and the number of passengers with carry-on baggage, the higher are boarding and deboarding times, with the 2 × 2 having the lowest times in comparison with the other two configurations.
Highlights
Turnaround time (TAT) is the time taken for an aircraft in the airport to be prepared for the flight
Passengers can board the airplane in no particular order but with an assigned seat prior to the start of the boarding process, while in open seating, the passengers choose their seats once they are inside the airplane
This paper presented the analysis of the influence of commercial aircraft interior configuration on the boarding and deboarding procedures
Summary
Turnaround time (TAT) is the time taken for an aircraft in the airport to be prepared for the flight. A series of activities take place in the TAT, such as boarding and deboarding of passengers, loading and unloading cargo, fueling, and catering [1]. All passengers are called together in one class [3] and board the airplane in no particular order, in a single block including all seats. This is different from the open seating method, in which passengers choose their seats inside the airplane. Passengers can board the airplane in no particular order but with an assigned seat prior to the start of the boarding process, while in open seating, the passengers choose their seats once they are inside the airplane. Since the model is a simplified one, passengers move in the airplane by occupying empty spaces in the aircraft aisle towards the exit door, and no special order is used
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