Where i got my estimations

Using ChatGPT, i found out that "Most planes will start boarding 30 to 45 minutes before departure " when boarding front to back. The math checks out because i took 30 minutes, then divided i by the seats (24) and got 1.25. This means that on average, it takes 1.25 minutes for each person to get seated.

With my improvement, with the help of chatgpt, i found out that boarding from back to front is 50% faster. Each person takes approximately 45 seconds to get seated, which cuts the time down to 18 minutes. I did this math by multiplying 45  seconds to 24 seats, i then got  1,080 seconds, i then divided it by 60 for the minutes, and i got 18 minutes. 

Source for the quote: https://travelpro.com/blogs/the-travelpro-blog/how-to-board-a-plane#:~:text=How%20Long%20Does%20It%20Take,to%2015%20minutes%20before%20departure.

Unevenness/Imbalances

• Uneven distribution of luggagesin the stow areas

• Travelers in groups cause traffic jams

• Late boarders

Possible Improvements

• Split boarding into smaller groups (ex. rows 25-35, rows 10-15) to avoid overcrowding in the isles

• Call passengers based on where they are seated (ex. window seat, middle seat, end seat.)

• Incentivize checking larger carry-on bags to prevent over crowding in the stow areas

What did i learn?

• Impact of process improvements: Small changes can improve efficiency

• Value of level loading:  Evenly distributing boarding can cut down congestion and wasted time.

Airplane boarding- Future state

First Proposal: Implement pre-boarding group assignments based on seat locations and carry-on size.

Assign passengers to smaller boarding groups based on their location, passengers with window seats are boarded first, then middle, then aisle seats. This ensures a smoothe and linear flow and will reduce congestion. For carry-ons, i propose that we pre check the carry-on for its size before entering the plane to account for the time it takes to process oversized baggage.

SMED Focus:
The whole process should aim for 60 seconds per group of passengers boarding. A group of around 10-15 passengers should have no problem boarding and having a smooth time. This gives a minute of grace time for mistakes like incorrect seating, stowing luggage, etc. 

• Visuals: Flowcharts showing seat assignments with boarding gates, color-coded boarding group sections, and a carry-on size verification area.

• Metrics:

• Boarding time per group: 60 seconds

• Efficiency improvement: +30%

• Carry-on check time: < 5 seconds

Second Proposal:  Dual-Gate Boarding and Aircraft Modifications for Efficient Entry and Exit

• Dual Gate Boarding System: Adapt gate design so that two boarding bridges are used for each flight, with one bridge for front access and the other for rear entry. This allows passengers to board from both ends simultaneously, reducing time spent in the aisle and speeding up the boarding process.

• SMED Focus:

• 60 Seconds per Group for Dual Boarding: With two groups boarding from opposite ends of the plane, 60 seconds per group maximizes efficiency and minimizes bottlenecks.

• Visual Tools: Digital signage guiding passengers to their respective boarding areas. Gate attendants use color-coded boarding passes (or wristbands) for seamless group coordination.

• Metrics:

• Time Per Group Boarding: Estimated time for dual-gate boarding: 60 seconds per group.

• Passenger Throughput: Boarding time per flight reduced by 50-60%.

• Cabin Flow Efficiency: Increased efficiency in passenger distribution across the plane, reducing aisle congestion and improving boarding time by 25%.

• ROI: Reduced boarding time means quicker turnaround for flights, which translates to increased flight capacity and higher airport revenue.

• Social/Cultural Barriers:

• Adaptation of Aircraft Design: Resistance from airlines due to retrofitting costs. Overcome by demonstrating ROI via reduced delays and faster boarding, leading to more on-time flights.

• Passenger Awareness: The need for clear communication on new boarding procedures through apps, signage, and gate a

• Visuals: Diagrams of dual boarding bridges with two-way passenger flow, seat assignments for front and rear access, aisle flow management system.

• Metrics:

• Boarding time per group: 60 seconds

• Efficiency improvement: +50-60%

• Reduced turnaround time: +25%

• ROI: Quicker flight turnover increases airport capacity and flight frequency.