Trends in Aircraft Sizing and Fleet Mix

This paper analyzes current trends in aircraft characteristics and fleet mix and the implications of these trends on airport design. The airline industry is continuously exploring new ways of efficiently and economically operating their fleets in order to overcome the economic and financial pressures of a competitive operating environment. In response to these challenges, airlines are introducing aircraft into their fleets with lower fuel consumption and geometric characteristics to improve aircraft performance and efficiency. In the near future, the efficiency of gate operations and other airport facilities could be significantly impacted if the trends and changes in aircraft characteristics and airline fleet mix profiles are not well analyzed, projected, and accommodated.