Minimizing health risks as a function of the number of airplane boarding groups

Abstract

Airlines and researchers have been working to reduce the health risk to passengers from the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV2. Recent literature indicates that the Reverse Pyramid boarding method provides a lower health risk than other boarding methods using a limited number of boarding groups, while keeping the middle seats empty. With a primary objective of minimizing health risks, we determine the number of passengers to include in each boarding group when using the Reverse Pyramid method. We examine how the optimal performance varies with the volume of carry-on luggage, the social distance maintained between passengers walking down the aisle, and the number of boarding groups. An increased quantity of luggage increases health risk, while changing the aisle social distance from 1m to 2m brings provides negligible health value to seated passengers. Increasing the number of boarding groups decreases the risk to passenger health while increasing the time to complete boarding.