Airport Design – Passenger Terminal Concepts
Photo: New Terminal in Heathrow Airport, UK
Basic Planning Criteria in Development of Passenger Terminals
- Easy orientation
- Simplicity
- Minimize walking distances
- Minimize level changes
- Minimize pax cross-flows
- Compatibility of facilities with aircraft characteristics
- Built-in flexibility to accommodate future changes in dynamic industry
- Traffic peaking characteristics
- Transfer volume and connecting times
5 Common Terminal Design Concepts in Airport Design
- Pier/Finger
- Linear
- Transporter
- Satellite
- Compact Module Unit Terminal
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Pier/Finger Concept:
Advantages:
- Centralized resources, economies of scale (human, facilities, amenities)
- Facilitates pax management
- Economical to build
- Efficient use of land
Disadvantages:
- Long walking distances
- Kerb side congestion
- Limited expansion capability
- Reduced aircraft circulation &
- Maneuverability
- Limited compatibility of future aircraft design development
-
Linear
Advantages:
- Shortest walking distances
- Clear orientation
- Simple construction
- Adequate kerb length
- Shorter close-out times
- Lower baggage systems costs
- (conveying/sorting) using decentralized system
Disadvantages:
- Duplication of terminal facilities/amenities
- Longer minimum connecting time
- Longer walking distances for transfer pax
- Special logistics for handling of transfer bags
- Less flexibility in terminal and apron for future changes in operations eg aircraft design, airlines
-
Transporter:
Advantages:
- Easy compatibility of terminal/ apron geometry and future aircraft design development
- Ease of aircraft manoeuvrability
- Ease of expansion capability for aircraft stands
- Simple and smaller central terminal
- Cost savings
Disadvantages:
- Higher instances of pax delays
- Early closed-out times
- High capital, maintenance & operating costs
- Susceptible to industrial disputes with vehicle drivers
- Increased vehicular movements on airside with aircraft
- Kerbside congestion
- Increased minimum connecting times
-
Satellite
Advantages:
- Centralized resources (human, facilities and amenities)
- Facilitates pax management
- Additional satellites can be designed to accommodate future aircraft design developments
Disadvantages:
- Requires high technology, underground transportation system
- High capital, maintenance & operating cost
- Kerbside congestion
- Limited expansion capability at main terminal
- Increases minimum connecting times
- Early closed-out times
-
Compact Modul Unit Terminal
Advantages:
- Short walking distances
- Late closed-out times
- Longer kerb length than conventional central terminal
- Capital investment is commensurate with demand
- Simple pax & baggage transportation/sorting systems within each module
- Low baggage mishandling potential
Disadvantages
- Multi-compact module units require pax and bag transfer systems between terminals
- Duplication of facilities, higher operating costs
