Airside Capacity Analysis and Evaluation of Istanbul Ataturk Airport Using Fast-Time Simulations

ABSTRACT The role of air transport in transportation system is increasing every year. However, there can be difficulties to meet this increase. Therefore, efforts to resolve the problems in air transport become important. Delays and congestions are seen in the air transport system are among these problems. Airports are one of the most critical points of air transportation system facing these problems. One of the measures to be taken to resolve this problem is improving the existing system. Istanbul Ataturk Airport, the busiest airport in Turkey, often experiences delay and congestion problems. To propose a solution to these problems and to reduce runway occupancy time in Istanbul Ataturk Airport, additional fast-exit taxiways to the runway 05 were constructed. In this study, the impact of infrastructure changes made in Istanbul Ataturk Airport is examined, and traffic flow and capacity analysis is carried out comparing three different runway configurations. In consequence of the construction of additional fast-exit taxiways to the runway 05, airport capacity has increased 1.9 per cent. It is also shown that the high average delay time reduces airport capacity.