Network-based queuing model for simulating passenger throughput at an airport security checkpoint

This paper models different passenger strategies, shows potential network structures, and compares different performance cases for queuing at airport security checkpoints. Our findings show that different network structures require different passenger strategies to achieve optimal performance. The open network structure performs significantly better than the restrictive one, and the allocation of more security staff for baggage checking improves performance under the precondition that the total number of security staff remains constant. We also find that the combination of n M/M/1 systems will perform almost the same or even better than the M/M/n system when the passengers' strategies and feelings are considered. Based on these findings, some practical insights are provided on how to improve airport security checkpoints.