Airbridge v steps - cost?
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 158
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From: Farnborough Hants
Airbridge v steps - cost?
One thing that puzzles me - the low-cost airlines seem to favour their passengers climbing steps to get onto their aircraft rather than using an airbridge so that they can just walk from the terminal onto the plane. The reason for this appears to be cost-saving. is it really cheaper to drive 2 sets of steps to the plane, corrrectly position them, set out guide ropes to keep passengers away from the engines/wings etc, have a couple of bods around to make sure that passengers don't go wandering off and take this all down when boarding is complete, rather than just having an airbridge motor out to the "front door" of the plane? To my mind an airbridge would be a much cheaper way of doing things.
EDIT - sometimes using the steps method also involves buses taking the passengers from the terminal to the plane, yet another expense
EDIT - sometimes using the steps method also involves buses taking the passengers from the terminal to the plane, yet another expense
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 2
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From: North Essex
It's more about speed than cost. On the short turnarounds flavoured by low fares carriers you can get the passengers off and on much quicker with steps as you can use front and rear doors.
The cost is a bit of a myth I think - I have worked with airlines that sometimes used an air bridge (adverse weather) and sometimes used steps but I don't think the airport kept a record of it.
The cost is a bit of a myth I think - I have worked with airlines that sometimes used an air bridge (adverse weather) and sometimes used steps but I don't think the airport kept a record of it.
PPRuNe Handmaiden
Joined: Feb 1997
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From: Duit On Mon Dei
Jetbridges typically only load via the forward left door. Whereas you can attach stairs to the same door as well as the rear left door so embarkation and disembarkation is a lot quicker. Yes there are some choke points when folks board from the wrong door but generally, it's faster.
Pax of limited mobility are brought on via the forward right door (same as catering) and they use a similar scissor lift type of vehicle. (roll on/roll off).
Pax of limited mobility are brought on via the forward right door (same as catering) and they use a similar scissor lift type of vehicle. (roll on/roll off).
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: on the ground
The only time I have encountered stairs in recent years was a budget price domestic flight in Australia (Virgin MEL-BNE), where BOTH the stairs to the rear left entry AND the airbridge to the usual front left entry were used. Anyone with mobility issues was instructed to use the airbridge, most of the rest of us shuffled down stairs out of the departure lounge onto the tarmac and up the stairs into the aircraft. I presume it was done to speed up turnaround.
Joined: Oct 2018
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From: Ferrara
The only place buses really worked was Singapore Paya Lebar. Vast, wide, buses all about 5cm off the ground driven almost right into the arrivals hall. Great big doors so you could all pile out at once - and about a 30 m walk max to the Immigration desk - which was always fully staffed of course. You could be out of the airport in less than 15 minutes from leaving the aircraft.
PPRuNe Handmaiden
Joined: Feb 1997
Posts: 4,910
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From: Duit On Mon Dei
Whilst I rarely cheer when I see a bus to the terminal, in LPPT, the bus drops you right at the Immigration gates (after stairs) versus a potentially long walk. Most busses do come to think of it. They are a faff, I prefer to walk the (often very short) distance to the terminal.
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 11
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From: Farnborough
Couple of domestic JetStar flights, one stairs front and rear, no air bridge, the other air bridge at front and stairs at the rear. Crew stand mid cabin directing passenger to correct exit. All seemed to work smoothly and quickly.
