Analysis and Optimization of Queueing Systems in Airports—Discrete Event Simulation

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to present an authentic queuing scenario for airports both international and domestic including transit passengers in constant efforts to create a uniform flow of passengers and baggage. This study aims also at the simulation that can be used to identify bottlenecks in the systems as well as to gain insight into the whole process. Similarly, the study suggests multiple modified scenarios that provide a solution to the challenges in existing systems that can be adopted by the industry in the near future. More specifically, these scenarios are rearrangements and modifications to the existing system. As security checkpoints are points in the system which can cause severe delays and are notorious for separation of individuals in a group. Therefore, scenarios are considered wherein the number of checkpoints can be increased such that the total number of individuals waiting gets distributed effectively. Lastly, another scenario in which gate specific checkpoints are considered has been modeled for reference and can be seen on a few busy airports, it was also observed that the waiting times at security checkpoints reduced by 0.10 out of 0.43, 0.07 and 0.33. Though a longer queue time was observed at the last scenario than the second scenario, the third scenario would be a better replacement as it yields an optimum performance time without increasing the load on other points such as immigration, check-in and baggage claim unlike the second scenario wherein the queuing at security check point is reduced but pressure builds up on other parts of the system.