Sizing of processing and holding air terminal facilities for charter passengers using simulation tools

Charter passengers represent a category of airport users that imposes uncommon operating conditions to airport terminal facilities, which, if not anticipated, may result in a low level of service. This is usually the case of airports serving areas of tourist attraction where growth in demand of charter flights has made them the dominant passenger flow. This paper presents a simulation model that enables the investigation of charter passenger effects on air terminal facilities and enables the estimation of the level of service offered. Some of the model’s features can be easily implemented by use of spreadsheets. The paper concludes with a critical assessment of the results arisen in the master plan of two Greek airports where the simulation model was implemented.