Jazmin Li
Airport ground access systems are an integral part of the overall passenger and baggage processing system. These systems include all the ground transportation facilities, vehicles, and transfer facilities required to move the passenger to and from the airport. This includes highways, intercity and metropolitan rail services, taxis, buses, shuttles, limousines, and transfer stations, including off- and on-airport parking sites and rail stations. Airport ground access systems also include ground support equipment (GSE) used to service aircraft between flights, such as refuelling, towing, loading luggage and freight, transporting passengers, and loading food.
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What You'll Learn
Ground support equipment (GSE)
GSE covers a diverse range of vehicles and equipment necessary for servicing aircraft during passenger and cargo loading and unloading, maintenance, and other ground-based operations. This includes ground power operations, aircraft mobility, and cargo/passenger loading operations.
GSE vehicles and equipment include:
- Pushback tugs/tractors: Used to push or pull aircraft, e.g. pushing an aircraft away from the gate when it is ready to leave, or pulling it to a hangar.
- Container loaders: Used for loading and unloading containers and pallets into and out of aircraft.
- Aircraft refuelers: Either self-contained fuel trucks or hydrant trucks/carts that hook into a central pipeline network.
- Lavatory carts: Smaller carts that must be pulled by a tug, used for waste tank drainage.
- Catering vehicles: Used for unloading unused food and drink from the aircraft and loading fresh food and drinks, which are prepared on the ground.
- Bag carts: Moved by tugs and tractors and used for transporting loose baggage.
- Mobile air conditioning units: Moved by tugs and tractors.
- Ground power units (GPUs): Supplying power to aircraft parked on the ground, often built into the jetway.
There is a move towards electric GSE (eGSE) technologies, which can be more efficient and environmentally beneficial, particularly due to frequent start/stops and idle time. Common pieces of GSE that are already electrified include pushbacks, belt loaders, container loaders, luggage tugs, lavatory trucks, and water trucks.
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Electric ground support equipment (eGSE)
Ground support equipment (GSE) is the equipment used at airports to service aircraft between flights. This includes refuelling, towing, loading luggage and freight, transporting passengers, loading potable water, removing sewage, loading food, de-icing, and firefighting.
The market for eGSE is promising, as customers are generally large and technologically sophisticated airlines, contractors, or airports. Additionally, the volatility of petroleum prices may encourage airlines to diversify their fuel sources.
However, there are challenges to adopting eGSE, including high upfront costs, infrastructure limitations, and logistical challenges. To overcome these challenges, public authorities and airport operators should streamline permitting procedures, plan the grid effectively, and provide access to clean and renewable energy sources.
Electrical Ground Support Equipment (EGSE) is also a term used to describe tools used by satellite and subsystem manufacturers to test and validate electrical functions of satellites on the ground before launch. This type of EGSE consists of hardware and/or software elements that perform satellite testing and validation.
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Public transport market share
Airport ground access systems refer to the various modes of transportation that connect airports to nearby cities or towns. These systems are essential for commuters, students, and tourists, offering a safe, quick, and cost-effective means of travel. The market for airport ground transportation is growing due to rising passenger travel for both leisure and business. The market is projected to reach USD 38,696.3 million by 2034, with a CAGR of 4.6%.
Public transport plays a significant role in airport ground access systems, and its market share varies across different airports. For instance, Oslo and Zurich airports have relatively smaller sizes but boast high mode shares. Oakland International Airport, with its 3-mile bus connection, also achieves an exceptionally high mode share. On the other hand, larger airports like Paris de Gaulle and New York JFK have higher mode shares than their smaller counterparts, Paris Orly and New York LaGuardia, respectively.
The success of public transport in airport ground access systems depends on several factors. Speed is crucial, with faster line-haul vehicles generally attracting higher mode shares. Rail services can have a significant impact on mode shares, especially when the distance to the downtown area is long, taxi fares are high, and travel time can be reduced by using rail. However, in the United States, direct rail service to the terminal does not always result in higher public transport mode shares.
The market for transit and ground passenger transportation (public transport) is expected to reach USD 1212.2 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 6.7%. This growth is driven by rapid urbanization, increasing population, and the growing focus on sustainable transportation. The adoption of electric buses and other sustainable modes of transportation is becoming more prevalent, with governments and transportation providers aiming to reduce carbon emissions. Additionally, the integration of smart technology, such as mobile ticketing and real-time passenger information systems, is enhancing the public transport experience.
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Rail travel time and speed
Rail connections to airports are an important aspect of ground access systems. Rail travel time and speed are key factors in the success of these systems.
The speed of the line-haul vehicle between the airport and the downtown area is a significant element in the effectiveness of ground access systems. For example, Zurich, Oslo, and Narita airports have average rail speeds of over 40 mph. Zurich airport, in particular, has a mode share of 42% and an average speed of 42 mph. Oslo, with a mode share of 39%, has an average speed of 95 mph, while Narita, with a mode share of 36%, has an average speed of 44 mph. These high-speed rail connections contribute to reduced travel times and increased accessibility to city centres.
The distance between the airport and the downtown area also plays a role in determining the competitiveness of rail against other modes of transport. Airports with longer ground access trips tend to have lower taxi and kiss-ride drop-off trip shares. Additionally, high rail mode shares are observed when the distance is long, taxi fares are high, and travel time gains can be achieved on the line-haul segment. Zurich and Copenhagen airports are examples of this, as they are part of a wider feeder system serving longer-distance trips.
The integration of high-speed rail systems has significantly improved travel times between metropolitan areas. In some cases, such as the Paris-Lyon route, high-speed rail has reduced travel times, placing new areas within commuting range. This has led to the emergence of commuter rail lines and increased competition with short and medium-distance air transport. High-speed rail is particularly advantageous for journeys of 1 to 4.5 hours (approximately 93-559 miles), offering shorter total trip times than air travel for these distances. The process of checking in, going through airport security, and travelling to and from the airport adds time to air journeys, making high-speed rail a competitive alternative.
The Denver International Airport rail line provides an example of travel time and speed considerations. The 23-mile ride from the airport to Denver Union Station takes approximately 37 minutes, with trains reaching speeds of up to 79 mph. This service operates every 15 minutes during peak hours and every 30 minutes outside of those hours, providing a frequent and time-efficient connection to the city centre.
In conclusion, rail travel time and speed are critical factors in the success of airport ground access systems. High-speed rail connections offer reduced travel times, increased accessibility to city centres, and competitiveness against short to medium-distance air travel. The integration of high-speed rail systems has the potential to transform commuting patterns and enhance the overall efficiency of ground transportation networks.
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Passenger processing requirements
The passenger processing requirements of airport ground access systems are dependent on the segment of the itinerary a passenger is on. The three primary itinerary segments are departing, arriving, and transferring. Each of these segments has different requirements and needs.
Departing passengers are those who are entering the terminal from the ground access system through the access/processing interface. For these passengers, the access/egress link of the airport's passenger handling system is critical. This includes all the ground transportation facilities, vehicles, and transfer facilities required to move the passenger to and from the airport. Examples include highways, intercity and metropolitan rail services, buses, shuttles, limousines, and off- and on-airport parking sites. Advanced traveller information systems (ATIS) can help departing passengers to estimate their travel time to the airport and, in some cases, offer alternative routes or modes of transport that reduce travel time or monetary costs.
Arriving passengers are those who have just disembarked a flight and entered the terminal with the intention of leaving the airport for their final destination through the access/egress interface. For these passengers, the efficient processing and movement of baggage are critical. The baggage claim area must be configured to provide sufficient frontage to accommodate all passengers requiring access to their baggage, while minimising the total space required.
Transferring passengers are those who are entering the terminal from the flight interface with the intention of boarding another flight to their ultimate destination within a relatively short period. For these passengers, the efficiency of the airport's ground access system is critical to ensuring they can make their connecting flights.
Overall, the passenger processing requirements of airport ground access systems vary depending on the segment of the passenger's itinerary. Efficient and effective ground access systems are critical to ensuring the smooth movement of passengers through the airport and to their final destinations.
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Frequently asked questions
Airport ground access systems refer to the various transportation methods that connect an airport to the surrounding community. This includes highways, intercity and metropolitan rail services, buses, shuttles, limousines, and more.
Ground access systems can be categorized into public transportation and private transportation. Public transportation includes buses, trains, and shuttles, while private transportation includes taxis, limousines, and personal vehicles.
Efficient ground access systems reduce travel time and costs for passengers. Additionally, they contribute to the growth of aviation by improving accessibility to the airport.
Some challenges include vehicle/pedestrian deviations due to factors such as driver knowledge of airport layout and communication issues. Other challenges relate to infrastructure limitations, logistical considerations, and high upfront costs, especially for implementing electric ground-handling vehicles.
