A new type of capacity model to evaluate capacity enhancements

Abstract

Airports reaching their capacity limit in the near future or trying to keep their runway capacity at a specific level due to increasing regulation are facing several problems. Not only that the planning and realization of a new runway takes several years, it is also very costly. Additionally it is very hard to respond flexible and rapid to capacity bottlenecks, whereat on the other hand several capacity enhancements might solve the problem. Comparing several enhancements for an airport comes along with many scientific studies which are needed to evaluate their impact. The idea to develop a simple standardized airport model, serves the purpose of an optimum selection of potential runway capacity enhancements for any runway system. The main advantage of a simple standardized airport model lies in a possible comparison and preselection of capacity enhancements at a very early stage, offering quick and valid results. Furthermore it provides a system understanding with interdependencies between different capacity influencing factors. The target groups of such a model represent the strategic decision makers and investment support of an airport. Also at the political level this model can be applied, especially in terms of combining capacity with costs and environmental impact assessments of different measures.