Changes in technology, industry structure, and airline operations are having a profound effect on the numerical factors and concepts that go into the planning and design of airport passenger buildings.  Specifically, (a) security screening requirements have altered passenger flows and the desirability of locating commercial activities beyond the security checkpoints; (b) electronic check-in, both in terminal and before arrival at the airport, are totally changing requirements for the public counter and back office space for the check-in process; (c) the growth of low-cost carriers is having a strong effect on the criteria for design, in terms of level of service standards and space configurations desired by the airline customers; and (d) the newer pattern of quick turn-arounds for aircraft, which increases the use of each gate, is increasing the space requirements beyond check-in, as more people have to be accommodated in the gate areas in any given period.

 

The planning and design for the new JetBlue terminal at New York/Kennedy airport illustrates these points. The increased pressure for “low-cost terminals” accentuates the importance of proper airport terminal planning.

 

Planners and designers for all sizes of airports are struggling with how to make passenger terminals that provide good value and level of service efficiency that meet the criteria of the new range of stakeholders in airport terminals (e.g., TSA, low-cost carriers, concessionaires) and the new range of security and electronic procedures. Up-to-date, practical information is needed that not only can address the current issues but will provide the flexibility to accommodate emerging trends and issues.

 

Often airport managers, public officials, and planners do not necessarily have the breadth of knowledge or experience about the many factors, nuances, and alternatives to be considered in planning and designing an airport passenger terminal. This is especially true at smaller agencies with limited staff. It would be useful for them to have a guidebook that can be used when planning and designing the various components of a passenger terminal. This guidebook would facilitate discussion during the planning process and allow an airport manager to ask an airport planner or designer “Has this possibility been addressed?” or to respond to public inquiries such as, “Did you think of this idea?”

 

An FAA document on the subject, “Planning and Design Guidelines for Airport Terminal Facilities” (AC 150/5360-13) was prepared in 1988.   Airport passenger terminal planners and designers need up-to-date information on how to provide good value and efficiency to meet needs of stakeholders and accommodate changing technologies, materials, regulations, and operational factors for both large and small airports.

 

The objective of this project was to produce an Airport Passenger Terminal Planning Guidebook.   The guidebook includes sections (a) describing the airport passenger terminal planning process and (b) identifying current and future issues, trends, impacts, and solutions in airport passenger terminal planning.  

STATUS:  Report 25: Volume 1 Airport Passenger Terminal Planning Guidebook has been published. A summary on the efforts associated with the development of ACRP Report 25 Volume 1 is provided.