Evaluation of Boarding Methods Adapted for Social Distancing When Using Apron Buses

Area of Science:

• Aviation safety and public health during pandemics.
• Operations research and simulation modeling.
• Epidemiology and infectious disease transmission.

Background:

• Social distancing is crucial for mitigating novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) spread.
• Airport apron bus transport and aircraft middle seat occupancy reduce passenger density.
• Traditional airline boarding methods require adaptation for pandemic-era safety protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt and evaluate classical airline boarding methods for social distancing scenarios.
• To assess the impact of adapted boarding methods on virus transmission risk and boarding time.
• To identify optimal boarding strategies for airlines operating during pandemics.

Main Methods:

• Stochastic simulation experiments were conducted to evaluate nine adapted boarding methods.
• Performance was assessed using four metrics: three related to virus spread risk and one for boarding time.
• Simulations assumed passengers maintained 1m or 2m social distance in aisles.

Main Results:

• Three variations of the Reverse Pyramid boarding method emerged as top candidates.
• The Reverse Pyramid - Spread method offers the fastest boarding time with reduced health risks.
• Method selection depends on airline priorities: boarding time versus minimizing risk of passenger-to-passenger transmission.

Conclusions:

• Adapted Reverse Pyramid boarding methods can enhance safety during pandemic air travel.
• Airlines can optimize boarding strategies based on their specific risk tolerance and operational needs.
• Simulation results provide data-driven insights for improving airline passenger flow and safety protocols.