Changes of COVID-19 Pandemic to the Future Boarding Process of Airlines

Aviation is a significant field, especially in Hong Kong with Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) being one of the largest global transportation hubs. However, in the past years, the COVID-19 pandemic struck and significantly influenced the entire industry. As a result, the HKIA put forth an automation program with an emphasis on safety and efficiency. This paper, therefore, explores the specific process of boarding within the air traveling process due to its high susceptibility to health safety risks, utilizing the methodology of building an agent-based mathematical model and running computer simulations to find the optimal boarding strategy to be applied by Low-Cost Carriers in HKIA under the New Normal to practically achieve efficiency and safety. Throughout modeling, factors such as luggage and carry-ons, walking, seat interference, and disobedience are considered. The proportion of carry-ons stowed and luggage is also considered in further sensitivity analyses. The model is also applicable in the reverse process of disembarking a plane and under special circumstances of COVID-19 capacity limitations. The optimal method of boarding was to be found as the Maximized Corridor Usage (MCU) method. However, the practicality of a boarding method is also a large concern. Hence, the paper also incorporated a practicality factor, considering the simplicity and organization of various boarding methods, and finally concluding the MCU+2 method which boards the passengers in the window and middle seats before aisle seats as the most practically efficient and safe boarding method.