National Academies Press: OpenBook

Common Use Facilities and Equipment at Airports (2008)

Chapter: Chapter One - Introduction

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Suggested Citation:"Chapter One - Introduction." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2008. Common Use Facilities and Equipment at Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/14164.
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Suggested Citation:"Chapter One - Introduction." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2008. Common Use Facilities and Equipment at Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/14164.
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5BACKGROUND The U.S. air travel industry is undergoing a period of econo- mization to remain competitive and solvent. As a result, air- lines and airport operators are working together to reduce costs and make air travel more efficient. At the same time, the air travel industry continues to look for ways to improve customer service, the customer experience, and to speed up the passenger processing flow. Concurrent with the airlines seeking to economize to re- duce their operating costs is that airport operators across the United States are regaining control of their airport re- sources (i.e., terminals, gates, etc.) through the expiration of long-term leases, and sometimes by airlines ceasing or dramatically reducing operations at the airport operators’ locations. This has caused U.S. airport operators to reeval- uate the business model used to work with airlines to ensure the local needs of the cities being served are met, as well as the needs of the airlines. One solution with the potential for addressing these needed areas of improvement is the implementation of com- mon use. Common use enables an airport operator to take space that has previously been exclusive to a single airline and make it available for use by multiple airlines. These spaces include ticketing areas, gate hold rooms, gates, curb- side areas, loading bridges, apron areas, and club spaces. Common use provides airports and airlines with the ability to better manage operations in the passenger processing envi- ronment, improving passenger flow and ultimately reducing overall costs. However, even with more than two decades of implementation history, the benefits of common use are still not adequately catalogued. Common use may also include any space that is used or can be used to provide a service to the passenger. In this way, parking lots, baggage claim areas, and passageways can be considered common use. Common use also affects physical plant facilities such as preconditioned air and power. Other systems typically affected include ticketing, kiosks, baggage systems, check-in, next-generation check-in, and telephony. Airport common use systems also are increasingly being em- ployed in cruise ship terminals, hotels, ground transportation, and other nonairport environments. PURPOSE The objective of this synthesis is to provide a document that consolidates information on common use for airports in a sin- gle source. This report therefore functions as a good starting point in the understanding of common use. It is intended that this synthesis be presented to all stakeholders, including air- lines, airport operators, passengers, government entities, vendors, and ground handlers. The synthesis assembles literature and survey informa- tion on the effect of common use on airport and airline fi- nances, technology, operations, facilities, and business and policy decisions. Common use information is synthesized from the perspectives of passenger processing, ground handling, and technology infrastructure. The synthesis should leave the reader with a better understanding of com- mon use and the expected risks, rewards, and issues that may exist. SCOPE This synthesis presents the research conducted with airports, relevant committees, airlines, and applicable vendors on their collective experience with current and planned common use strategies. Throughout the document, the synthesis draws from both actual experiences to date, as well as from known future developments. Collection of information was through the following resources: • Existing knowledge source research: – Objective literature from international and domestic locations on facilities and practices (whether or not common use is in place); – Aviation industry emerging standards; – Airline literature; – International Air Transport Association’s (IATA’s) Simplifying the Business surveys, initiatives, and articles; and – Applicable vendor literature. • Airline and airport surveys (conducted in coordination with this synthesis). • Interviews with airport operators and airlines represent- ing different aspects of common use implementation. CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION

DATA COLLECTION Data for this synthesis were collected in the following ways. First, a thorough literature search was conducted to deter- mine the scope of available information. This search revealed that whereas journal articles and documentation exists, it is not abundant—highlighting the relative lack of information on this topic industry-wide. Of the documentation found through the literature search, it was noted that many of the same people were interviewed for inclusion in the articles. An Internet search was also conducted, which revealed a limited amount of available information on common use. Most of the information available was provided by vendors in the form of marketing material. Although information can be gleaned from these documents, they do not present a balanced, unbiased picture of common use strategies to assist stakehold- ers in the learning process. Unlike some topics, there was no central place to go to study the topic of common use. Informa- tion available from industry organizations, such as IATA, is provided at a very high level or is not freely available. Information was also obtained from IATA, vendors who provide common use solutions, and airlines and airports that have implemented these solutions. This information was primarily focused on CUTE (Common Use Terminal Equip- ment) and CUSS (Common Use Self-Service) installations (discussed further later in this synthesis). A spreadsheet containing the information acquired is contained in Appen- dix A. The researchers verified the data contained in this spreadsheet to confirm their accuracy; however, as time pro- gresses, the data will become stale, and ultimately irrelevant. Additional information was gathered through interviews, conversations, and experience. Although this synthesis does not formalize the collection of this interview information, primary use of the knowledge gathered is found in chapters two through five. Surveys were also conducted to find out the state of the industry, both in implementation and understanding 6 of common use strategies. Full survey results can be found in Appendix D. The survey results are analyzed later in this document. Separate surveys were sent to airlines and to airports. This was done primarily because the perspec- tive of each is different, and therefore warranted different questions. DOCUMENT ORGANIZATION Chapter one contains the background information required to set the basis for the remaining chapters. Chapter two uses the information gathered through the existing knowledge sources noted in chapter one and presents the general pro- gression for implementing common use. This is noted as the “common use continuum.” This chapter discusses the vari- ous systems and technologies typically associated with com- mon use. To support its case, the synthesis references specific industry documentation or “expert knowledge” sources where applicable. Chapter three presents information on the perceived advantages and disadvantages of common use from airline, airport, and passenger perspectives. As with chapter two, this chapter presents its findings from informa- tion gathered through the existing knowledge sources noted in chapter one. Chapters four and five build on the informa- tion presented in chapters two and three and reviews business and operational practices affected by common use. These chapters further discuss modifications needed to implement common use from both the airline and the airport perspec- tives. Chapter six presents seven case studies representing different aspects of “real-world” common use implementa- tions. Further information on the case studies and the inter- view process is included in the appendices. Chapter seven presents airport considerations for common use implementa- tions. Chapter eight provides the results and analysis of a survey conducted as part of the synthesis. Chapter nine sum- marizes the findings and presents suggestions for further study. Appendices are included where needed for supporting documentation and are noted throughout this synthesis.

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TRB’s Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Synthesis 8: Common Use Facilities and Equipment at Airports explores common use technology that enables an airport operator to take space that has previously been exclusive to a single airline and make it available for use by multiple airlines and their passengers.

View information about the February 9, 2010 TRB Webinar, which featured this report.

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