Parameters of moving sidewalks for airport terminal pier fingers

A moving sidewalk system installed at an airport pier finger is analyzed. The optimal length of the moving sidewalk and the optimal spacing between the access points which minimize the total cost of the system are obtained using methods of calculus, for a number of cases based on the different proportions of arriving, departing and transferring passengers and for two different types of moving sidewalks: elevated, at‐grade.

The optimal length of the moving sidewalk is shown to be linearly related to the length of the concourse, and to the total passenger demand. The effect due to preticketed transferees is insignificant.

The optimal spacing between access points is shown to be proportional to the square‐root of either the cost of an access escalator or the cost of inconvenience to a passenger due to an intermediate gap, depending on the moving sidewalk system under consideration. It also changes with the percentage of preticketed transferees.