Network-based queuing model for simulating passenger throughput at an airport security checkpoint

• Published in: Journal of air transport management 2018-01, Vol.66, p.13-24
• Main Authors: Li, Yongli, Gao, Xin, Xu, Zhiwei, Zhou, Xuanrui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Airport security checkpoint; Network structure; Passenger strategies; Queuing network; Simulation analysis
• ISSN: 0969-6997; 1873-2089
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jairtraman.2017.09.013

This paper models different passenger strategies, shows potential network structures, and compares different performance cases for queuing at airport security checkpoints. Our findings show that different network structures require different passenger strategies to achieve optimal performance. The open network structure performs significantly better than the restrictive one, and the allocation of more security staff for baggage checking improves performance under the precondition that the total number of security staff remains constant. We also find that the combination of n M/M/1 systems will perform almost the same or even better than the M/M/n system when the passengers' strategies and feelings are considered. Based on these findings, some practical insights are provided on how to improve airport security checkpoints. •Different passenger strategies are considered and modelled in mathematics.•Different network queuing structures are designed and displayed.•Three indexes are defined to measure efficiency, satisfaction and robustness.•Numerical experiments are conducted to compare the performances under different cases.•New findings are reported to guide the design of an airport security checkpoint.