using Arena Simulation software The Scenario Description

Turnaround operations are defined as the activities that take place in the intervening period between the arrival of an airplane at an airport and departure of the same airplane. These activities include baggage handling, passenger deplaning and enplaning, security checks, cleaning, catering supplies, aircraft maintenance, and fuelling. Turnaround activities consume significant time and resources. Walkways must be set up for passengers to deplane and enplane; material handling equipment placed and operated for baggage offloading and uploading; and maintenance, fuelling, cleaning and stocking of catering supplies scheduled.

The efficiency and duration of the turnaround operation has a significant impact on the punctuality of flight departures. If turnaround activities are not completed on time, flight departure may be delayed.

The process starts when an aircraft arrives at the hub and is assigned a gate for parking by the air traffic control tower. A Jetway is prepared and the turnaround activities begin. These activities include passenger deplane (disembarking), baggage offloading and uploading, fuelling, cleaning and stocking catering supplies. Some of these activities are not necessarily sequential. When the turnaround operation is completed, the aircraft is dispatched and ready for departure. See figure 1 for the sequence of operations.