Page 443 - Planning and Design of Airports

CHAPTER 10

Planning and Design

of the Terminal Area

Introduction
The terminal area is the major interface between the airfield and the
rest of the airport. It includes the facilities for passenger and baggage
processing, cargo handling, and airport maintenance, operations, and
administration activities. The passenger processing system is discussed
at length in this chapter. Baggage processing, cargo handling, and
apron requirements are also discussed relative to the terminal system.

The Passenger Terminal System
The passenger terminal system is the major connection between the
ground access system and the aircraft. The purpose of this system is
to provide the interface between the passenger airport access mode, to
process the passenger for origination, termination, or continuation of
an air transportation trip, and convey the passenger and baggage to
and from the aircraft.

Components of the System
The passenger terminal system is composed of three major compo-
nents. These components and the activities that occur within them
are as follows:

1. The access interface where the passenger transfers from the
access mode of travel to the passenger processing compo-
nent. Circulation, parking, and curbside loading and unload-
ing of passengers are the activities that take place within this
component.
2. The processing component where the passenger is processed
in preparation for starting, ending, or continuation of an air
transportation trip. The primary activities that take place within

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