Modelling Regional Airport Terminal Capacity

Effectiveness of operation and avoiding of over-design of infrastructure become key factors for ensuring regional airports' existence at the beginning of the 21st century in Europe. Due to the operational profile, regional airports in Europe have a limited capability to increase the non-aviation revenue. On the other hand, aviation revenue has been under pressure due to low-fare trends and competition - not only between airlines but between airports as well. Furthermore, to be flexible at the airlines' suitable times of operations the size of the largest aircraft for operations at regional airports is changed. This study is an analysis the regional airport terminal capacity with its application based on the Ülenurme Airport at Tartu, Estonia. The aim of this research is ascertainment of the regional airport specificities and possibilities for optimising the capacity of regional airport terminals that provide services at a reasonable level. The results and findings of this research should be implemented as the input for the regional airport terminal modelling. Also possible measures for increasing regional airport terminal capacity are offered.