Simulating and Evaluating Different Boarding Strategies on the Example of the Airbus A320

Abstract

. Based on an Airbus A320 simulation model, this paper compares the boarding times of random boarding with the most frequently applied boarding strategy back-to-front boarding as well as the alternatives outside-in boarding and back-to-front combined with outside-in boarding. The study shows that, on the one hand, outside-in boarding can reduce boarding times by more than 12%, but on the other hand, this also requires a high degree of discipline. As boarding is part of the turnaround process, shorter boarding times mean faster take offs and allow an airport to handle a higher number of planes.