Jazmin Li
Moving walkways are a common feature of most airports, but their purpose is not to speed up travel time, despite popular belief. They are designed to manage the flow of passengers and ensure safety. As airports have expanded, so have the distances passengers need to travel within them. Moving walkways help to facilitate this movement, acting as a 'people conveyor belt'. They are also used in airports to showcase art and music, enhancing the travel experience.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Manage passenger movement across terminals and concourses |
| Speed | Generally slower than a natural walking pace |
| Design | Pallet type or belt type |
| Safety | Eliminates safety risks generated by the moving belt type |
| Convenience | Allows passengers to move between floors with their luggage |
| Capacity | Can transport a larger number of people than an elevator |
| Entertainment | Some airports feature artwork, sculptures, music, and visual art along the walkways |
| Energy Efficiency | Some models slow down when not in use and accelerate when users approach |
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What You'll Learn
Moving walkways improve accessibility for passengers with luggage
Moving walkways are a common sight at most airports. They are designed to manage the flow of passengers and ensure the safety of everyone. Airports often place artwork and sculptures on the walls and ceilings along the moving walkways, providing passengers with a unique experience of the local culture through music and visual art.
The concept of a machine to move people horizontally was first introduced in 1893 at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. However, moving walkways did not come into common use until air travel and airports expanded in the 1950s. The first moving walkway in an airport was installed in 1958 at Love Field in Dallas, Texas.
As airports have expanded, the distance that passengers have to travel within the terminals has increased. Large terminals with numerous gates mean longer distances for travelling passengers. Moving walkways assist passengers with luggage in covering these long distances more easily. They are especially useful for passengers rushing through terminals to catch their flights.
Inclined moving walkways are another type of moving walkway used in airports to move people between floors. They offer the convenience of an elevator, allowing passengers with suitcases or baby carriages to easily move between levels.
While moving walkways may not significantly reduce travel time, they can provide a pleasant break for passengers with luggage. Additionally, fast-moving travellers can continue walking on the moving walkway, adding to their normal walking speed.
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They are designed to manage the flow of passengers while ensuring safety
Moving walkways are designed to manage the flow of passengers while ensuring safety. They are a common sight at most domestic and international airports. As airport terminals have expanded, the distance travelled by passengers has increased. Moving walkways help to facilitate on-foot travellers, particularly those with luggage. They are also useful for travellers with trolleys, strollers, or mobility aids.
The first moving walkway in an airport was installed in 1958 at Love Field in Dallas, Texas. Since then, they have become essential for large terminals. Moving walkways generally move at a slower speed than a natural walking pace, so they may not reduce travel time. However, they can add to a person's walking speed if they continue to walk while on the walkway. Additionally, they can help to minimise congestion in busy areas of the airport.
Moving walkways are built in one of two basic styles: pallet type, which is similar in construction to an escalator, and belt type, which has a sequence of belts moving at different speeds to accelerate and decelerate riders. Pallet-type walkways have a series of flat metal or rubber plates that intermesh with a comb and slot arrangement. This design eliminates many safety risks by accelerating and decelerating users in a controlled manner. Belt-type walkways, on the other hand, often require riders to hold a handrail, which can be inconvenient for those carrying bags or with physical disabilities.
In recent years, there has been a push to enhance the travel experience on moving walkways. Airports have installed artwork, sculptures, music, and lighting along the walkways to showcase local culture and entertain travellers. Some walkways are also designed to be energy-efficient, slowing down when not in use and accelerating when users approach. These types of walkways are popular in Europe but are currently regulated out of use in the United States.
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Airports can showcase art and culture along these walkways
Moving walkways are an excellent opportunity for airports to display local culture through music, visual art, and sculptures. They can be a source of entertainment and a pleasant break for passengers rushing through terminals with their luggage. Additionally, they can serve as a functional wayfinding tool, guiding passengers towards their gates or other areas within the airport.
The design of these walkways has evolved over the years, with companies like Otis Elevator, Kone, Schindler, and Thyssenkrupp making significant improvements. For example, Thyssenkrupp's high-speed ACCEL walkway is set to be installed in three major airports outside the US, offering faster connections for passengers.
Beyond aesthetics and entertainment, moving walkways play a crucial role in managing passenger flow and safety within large airport terminals. They help passengers cover long distances more comfortably, especially in airports like Philadelphia International Airport, where the distance between concourses can total approximately 1.5 miles.
In conclusion, moving walkways in airports serve multiple purposes, from showcasing art and culture to facilitating efficient and safe passenger movement. They have become an integral part of the airport experience, with passengers even expressing dissatisfaction when new terminals lack these conveniences.
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Moving walkways are a variation of conveyor belts
The need for moving walkways arose in the 1950s when there was a significant increase in air travel in the United States. As airport terminals expanded, passengers had to travel longer distances on foot, often with their luggage in tow. Moving walkways were introduced to facilitate these on-foot travellers, providing a convenient way to move between gates and terminals.
While moving walkways are designed to improve passenger movement, they may not necessarily reduce travel time. This is because people tend to slow their pace when stepping onto a moving walkway, and the walkways themselves often operate at a slower speed than a natural walking pace. However, they can still provide a pleasant break for passengers rushing through large terminals with their luggage.
In recent years, interior designers have also utilised moving walkways to enhance the travel experience aesthetically. Airports often place artwork and sculptures along the walkways, allowing passengers to experience local culture through music and visual art. Additionally, some moving walkways have been designed with energy-saving features, such as slowing down when not in use and accelerating when users approach.
Moving walkways are particularly useful in airports with long distances between concourses. For example, Philadelphia International Airport has a distance of approximately 1.5 miles between concourses A and F, and Dallas Fort Worth Airport has a 2.16-mile trek between Terminal B and Terminal E. These lengthy walks within airports have been extended further by the addition of retail and concession stands, which bring in non-aeronautical revenue for the airports.
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They are not always faster than walking
Moving walkways are a common sight at most airports. They are essentially conveyor belts for people, designed to manage the flow of passengers and ensure safety. However, they are not always faster than walking.
The speed of moving walkways varies, but they generally move at a slower pace than a natural walking speed. When people step onto a moving walkway, they tend to subconsciously slow down their walking pace. Thus, the overall improvement in travel time is minimal. The walkways at Portland International Airport, for example, have a stop/start motion to conserve energy, only activating when a user approaches. This can further slow down the average walking speed.
In some cases, travellers who are in a hurry may continue walking on the moving walkway, which adds to their normal walking speed. However, this is not always the case, especially for those with mobility issues or those carrying luggage. For instance, the high-speed walkway in Montparnasse–Bienvenüe station in France required users to hold onto a handrail, making it inaccessible to those carrying luggage or with disabilities.
Additionally, some airports have removed their moving walkways to make room for more shops and restaurants, further prioritising financial objectives over passenger convenience. This has resulted in longer walking distances for travellers, with some concourses spanning up to 1.5 miles, like at Philadelphia International Airport.
While moving walkways can provide a pleasant break for passengers rushing through terminals, they are not always the fastest option and can sometimes add to the overall travel time, especially for those who choose to walk on them or have mobility concerns.
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Frequently asked questions
Airports have moving walkways to manage the flow of passengers and ensure the safety of everyone. They are designed to help passengers cover long distances to and from their gates.
Moving walkways generally move at a slower speed than a natural walking pace. When people step onto one, they tend to slow their pace to compensate, so moving walkways only minimally improve travel times.
Moving walkways are accessible to people of all ages and sizes, regardless of their health condition. They are also convenient for people with suitcase trolleys, shopping carts, or baby carriages.
