THE EFFECT OF MEASURES TAKEN IN THE SCOPE OF COVID-19 ON FLIGHT DELAYS: THE CASE OF ISTANBUL AIRPORT

: Baggage handling services make up a significant portion of the airline passenger transportation system's services. Air passenger transportation, unlike other modes of transportation, allows passengers to save time. It's one of the things passengers think about when making choices. The time it takes to travel is directly affected by delays in baggage delivery or flow. This could eliminate the time savings that air transportation has provided to its passengers. Some rules have changed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. One of them was discovered as a result of the pandemic circular. It is forbidden to take cabin baggage with passengers, and it is requested that the baggage be sent under the plane, according to the circular. This change also exposed a condition that could cause problems with baggage flow. Problems with baggage flow may have an impact on the time benefit. Due to the drop in flight frequency at several airports during the pandemic period, this study was scheduled to be conducted at Istanbul Airport, and it was conducted on international lines due to the interruptions experienced on domestic lines and the decreased number of passengers. In this study, international baggage transactions at Istanbul Airport were simulated using the Arena Trial program using data obtained through the interview method. As a result, during the Airport Pandemic Measures and Certification Circular, there was an increase in the time it took for bags to get to aircraft.