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Modelling of queuing process at airport check-in system: a case study of Manchester and Leeds-Bradford airports
Abstract
This study built a Simulation Model (SM) using SimEvents toolbox in MATLAB for implementing Analytical Models (AM) of queuing process at airport check - in system. Air travel demand data for Manchester and Leeds - Bradford airports in 2014 were adopted for validation of the model. There was no statistical differenc e between utilisation factor (UF) and service times of AM and SM outputs. Differences in AM and SM outputs for average queue length, average waiting time on queue and average number of arrivals and throughputs were attributed to variations in discrete time events considered by SM in contrary to the AM which assumed constant values for the process. The SM exhibited stochastic behaviour which actually depicts reality hence produces more reliable results. Stochastic analysis methods are therefore recommended for queuing analysis to achieve accurate results. The SM is therefore recommended to give Airport managers prior knowledge of system performance for planning and improved level of service (LOS) at airports.
Key words: Airport check - in system , discrete tim e events, analytical models, simulation model, SimEvents toolbox