MXPA97007343A - Airport operation - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an airport system, which comprises: a runway for the landing or takeoff of an aircraft, at least one floating barge, for carrying an aircraft through the water, to or from the runway and to or from a boarding or disembarkation site, in which passengers disembark or embark at least one barge, said at least one barge is separated from the runway and is different from that where the aircraft land, with said at least one barge having insufficient dimensions to support a runway, a terminal building, and said barge transports passengers to or from the landing or boarding site and to or from the terminal building, said barge includes a verification area, an area of control and immigration for the passengers that are going to leave, a device to load or unload the luggage from the airplane, a device to embark or disembark the passengers to the airplane, a distributor for the countries arriving haulers, to collect their luggage and resources to supply the service to the airplane, said barge travels along predetermined trajectories, between the runway and the disembarkation or embarkation site, the predetermined trajectories are defined waterways, or physically , or by other media

Description

OPERATION OF AIRPORTS The present invention relates to airports and their operation. Conventionally, passenger airports around the world are operated as follows. After landing on a runway, an airplane is taken by land to a parking position, which is generally, but not always, an entry position in an airport terminal building. Arriving passengers disembark from the plane in the parking position and go inside the terminal building or directly, when the aircraft is parked in an entry position, or by means of a bus, when the aircraft is parked away from the terminal building. The baggage and / or cargo carried by the plane, are unloaded and transported to a baggage classification area and the cargo is transported to the handling area of the same. While it is parked, the plane receives service, that is, it is refilled with fuel, cleaned internally, replenished with food for passengers, etc., so that it is ready to depart on its next flight. When in the terminal building, arriving passengers go through the immigration control area (if applicable) and the duty-free shopping area (if applicable). In the meantime, your luggage is transported from the classification area to a collection area. Arriving passengers pick up their baggage from their collection area and then go to the customs control area (if applicable) from outside the terminal building. Passengers who are in transit to an ongoing destination or are transferred to another plane (passenger transfer), disembark with arriving passengers and go to a transit anteroom and duty-free shopping area (if applicable), before proceeding to the required entry to board the plane departing to your next destination. Your luggage is transported from the classification area of the same to the entrance from which the plane is going to depart and loaded on that plane. Finally, the passengers that embark on a flight (hereinafter referred to as the "departing passengers") that arrives at the terminal building and proceed to the check-in area, where their baggage goes to the classification area of the same. Departing passengers then go from the check-in area through the immigration control area (if applicable) and to a departure hall, which may include a duty-free shopping area. From there, they go to the entrance from which their plane is going to depart and board the plane. In the meantime, your baggage is transported from the baggage classification area to the entrance, from which your plane is going to depart, where it is loaded on this plane. The aircraft, which has been properly serviced, leaves the entrance when departing passengers and any transfer passengers have boarded and their luggage and any cargo has been loaded, and rolls to the runway from where it takes off. Security checks are usually carried out on passengers and their carry-ons before boarding the plane, and there may be a security check on the remaining baggage in the baggage classification area. However, this conventional operating system means that the airport must occupy large landing areas. The runway site and the airport layout must be adapted to the topographic conditions, as well as compliance with requirements related to prevailing winds, space access and other environmental parameters. Increasing numbers of passengers and demands for the use of runways result in ever-increasing distances as the plane travels by land and often inadequate numbers of entries in the terminal building, together with increasingly long and increasingly complex movement systems for passengers and, in particular, luggage. All this causes that the times for the complete cycle of the airplane increase. Likewise, the airport construction costs to meet the requirements of the conventional operating systems of airports are very high, as well as the maintenance costs of these airports, in particular with respect to the systems of movement of passengers and luggage , and also the costs of expansion and improvements to accommodate changes in technology. Therefore, there is a need for an alternative system to operate an airport. According to a first aspect of the present invention, an airport is provided which comprises: a runway for an aircraft to land / take-off; at least one vehicle to take the aircraft from / to the runway and to / from an unloading / boarding site at which passengers disembark / board the vehicles; a terminal building; and a resource to transport passengers from / to the disembarkation / boarding site and to / from the terminal building. In a preferred embodiment, the airport further comprises predetermined paths along which the vehicle travels between the runway and the landing / boarding site. The predetermined roads can be waterways, the vehicle can be a barge and the track can be built on the sea.

Preferably, the vehicle includes several facilities that allow carrying out conventional activities in a parking position of this vehicle. Thus, the vehicle may include one or more of the following: resources for passengers to board / disembark to / from the aircraft; resources to load / unload baggage and / or cargo to / from the airplane; resources so that arriving passengers pick up their luggage; an immigration control area for arriving passengers; and a check-in area and an immigration control area for departing passengers. It is also preferred if the vehicle is adapted and equipped to service the aircraft. The disembarkation / boarding site may include a transit lounge for the transfer of passengers and a security check area for departing passengers. According to a second aspect of the present invention, a method of operating an airport is provided, according to the first aspect of the present invention, this method comprises: when an aircraft lands on the runway, transporting this aircraft on a vehicle , in which arriving passengers disembark from the plane; transporting the aircraft over the vehicle, from the runway to the disembarkation / embarkation site, arriving passengers disembark from the vehicle when it arrives at the disembarkation / embarkation site; transport passengers arriving from the disembarkation / boarding site to the terminal building; transporting passengers departing from the terminal building to the disembarkation / boarding site, so that these departing passengers can board the vehicle; and transporting the aircraft over the vehicle from the landing / boarding site to the runway from which the plane is going to take off, departing passengers board the aircraft on the vehicle, the aircraft receives service while it is on the vehicle. According to a third aspect of the present invention, a method for operating an airport is provided, which comprises: when an aircraft lands on an airport runway, transporting the aircraft over a vehicle, in which passengers arriving from the aircraft disembark this plane; transporting the airplane over the vehicle from the runway to an unloading / boarding site, in which arriving passengers disembark from the vehicle; transporting passengers arriving from the disembarkation / boarding site to a terminal building; transporting passengers departing from the terminal building to the disembarkation / boarding site so that departing passengers board the vehicle; and transporting the aircraft over the vehicle from the landing / boarding site to the runway, for the aircraft to take off, departing passengers board the aircraft on the vehicle, the aircraft receives service while it is on the vehicle. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for handling passengers arriving at an airport on an airplane, this method comprises: when the aircraft lands on a runway of the airport, transporting the aircraft on a vehicle, on which arriving passengers disembark from the plane; transporting the airplane over the vehicle from the runway to an unloading / boarding site, in which arriving passengers disembark from the vehicle; and transporting passengers arriving from the disembarkation / boarding site to a terminal building. In the methods of the second, third and fourth aspects of the present invention, incoming passengers may proceed as follows. After leaving the plane, they can pass through the immigration control area inside the vehicle, their luggage can be unloaded from the plane and picked up by the passengers arriving while they are on the vehicle and they can leave the terminal building through the Customs control area. According to a fifth aspect of the invention, a method is provided to handle departing passengers who leave an airport on an airplane, this method comprises: transporting passengers departing from a terminal building to an unloading site / boarding for departing passengers embark on a vehicle carrying an airplane; and transporting the aircraft on the vehicle from the landing / boarding site to a runway for the aircraft to take off, departing passengers board the aircraft on the vehicle. In the methods of the second, third and fifth aspects of the present invention, departing passengers may proceed as follows. They can enter the terminal building through a security check area, they can enter the disembarkation / boarding site through a security check area and can pass through a check area on the vehicle. Your luggage can be deposited in the check area from where it is loaded onto the plane.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for handling transfer passengers arriving at an airport on a first plane, this method comprises: when the first aircraft lands on a runway of the airport, transporting this first airplane on a first vehicle on which the transfer passengers disembark from the first plane; transporting the first aircraft on the first vehicle from the runway to an unloading / embarkation site, in which the transfer passengers disembark from the first vehicle and proceed to a transit area; transporting transfer passengers from the transit area so they can board a second vehicle that carries a second plane; transporting the second aircraft on the second aircraft from the landing / boarding site to the runway for the second aircraft to take off, the transfer passengers board the second aircraft on the second vehicle. According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for handling transfer passengers arriving at an airport in the first airplane, this method comprises: when the first aircraft lands on a runway of the airport, transporting this first aircraft over a first vehicle on which the transfer passengers disembark from the first plane; transporting the first aircraft on the first vehicle from the runway to an unloading / embarkation site in which the transfer passengers disembark from the first vehicle; transporting transfer passengers from the disembarkation / boarding site to a transit area in a terminal building; transport the transfer passengers from the terminal building to the disembarkation / embarkation site so they can embark a second vehicle that carries a second plane; transporting the second aircraft on the second aircraft, from the landing / boarding site, to the runway for the second aircraft to take off, the transfer passengers embarked on the second aircraft on the second vehicle. According to a further aspect of the present invention, a vehicle is provided for carrying an aircraft on its upper surface, this vehicle has resources to enable passengers to embark / disembark the aircraft, which means that it can be moved between a first position, substantially at a level with or below the top surface, and a second position adjacent to the aircraft. The vehicle is preferably self-propelled and can be a barge. This vehicle may also include resources to enable the cargo to be loaded / unloaded on / off the aircraft, which can be moved in the same manner as the resource to enable passengers to board / disembark from the aircraft. Reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic summary of the principles of a conventional operating system of an airport, showing the process of an aircraft from its landing until its takeoff; Figure 2 is a schematic summary of the movement of arriving passengers and their luggage in the system of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic summary of the movement of the transfer passengers and their baggage in the system of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a schematic summary of the movement of departing passengers and their baggage in the system of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a schematic summary of the principles of an operation system of an airport, according to the present invention, showing the process of an aircraft from its landing to its takeoff; Figure 6 is a schematic summary of the movement of arriving passengers and their luggage in the system of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a schematic summary of the movement of the transfer passengers and their baggage in the system of Figure 5; Figure 8 is a schematic summary of the movement of departing passengers and their baggage in the system of Figure 5; Figure 9 is a schematic summary of an alternative movement of the transfer passengers and their baggage in the system according to the present invention, by which those passengers proceed to / from a transit hotel; Figure 10 is a schematic plan view of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention, carried by an airplane; Figure 11 is a sectional view of the vehicle of Figure 10; Figure 12 is a plan view of a vehicle that is guided along a path; Figure 13 is a plan view of a guide post, which delimits the path of Figure 12; and Figure 14 is a sectional view of the guide post of Figure 13. Referring first to Figure 1, a conventional system operates as follows: an airplane 1 lands 2 on a track and rolls by land 3 to an entrance 4 in a terminal building. Here, arriving passengers disembark 5 and their baggage is unloaded 6. The plane receives service while it is in the entrance. The departing passengers 7 board the plane, their baggage is loaded 8. Next, this airplane 1 leaves the entrance 4 and rolls by land 10 to the runway and takes off 11. Figure 2 shows the movement of the disembarkation of the passengers in the Figure 1. Plane 1 lands 2 on a runway and rolls 3 to the entrance 4. Arriving passengers disembark 5 at the entrance 4 and proceed to terminal 12, where they pass through the control area 13 of immigration and the purchasing area 14 exempt from duties. Their baggage 6 is unloaded from the plane 1 at the entrance 4 and transported to the classification area 15 thereof at terminal 12 and from there to the baggage collection area 16, for example a baggage carousel. Here, arriving passengers pick up their baggage 6 and proceed through the customs control area 17 and then leave terminal building 12 for transportation 18 ahead.

Figure 3 shows the movement of the transfer passengers in the system of Figure 1. After the aircraft 1 rolls to the entrance 4, the transfer passengers 19 disembark and proceed directly to the shopping area 14 exempt of rights and from there to a room 21 of. transit or hotel 22 of transit 22 in terminal 12. When ready to depart, transfer passengers 19 leave terminal 12 and proceed to a second entrance 12 and board a second plane 24. Their baggage 20 is unloaded from the aircraft 1 at the entrance 4 and transported to a baggage sorting area 15 in terminal 12. Then they are transported to the second entrance 23 and loaded onto the second aircraft 24, which then leaves the second entrance 23 and rolls 10 to a track and takeoff 11. Figure 4 shows the movement of departing passengers 25 in the system of Figure 1. These passengers departing 25 arrive at terminal 12 via transport 18 and proceed to checking area 26. After this, they pass through the immigration control area 28 and the shopping area 14 exempt from rights and then to the entrance 4 to board the plane 1. Their luggage 27 passes from the checking area 26 to the classification area 15 of luggage and from there to entrance 4, where it is loaded to airplane 1, which then rolls 11 to the runway and takes off 11.

Figures 5 to 9 illustrate one embodiment of the operating system of an airport, according to the present invention. First reference is made to Figure 5, an airplane 1 lands 2 on a runway, which is on a platform built above the sea. The plane is then transported 30 on a barge 31 that floats on the sea, by impulse or transporting on the barge. Alternatively, the aircraft can be transported on the barge by other means, such as an auxiliary vehicle or a conventional push or pull front wheel system, on rails. Passengers arriving then disembark 5 from aircraft 1, their luggage is unloaded 6 and plane 1 receives service 9. Then the departing passengers board plane 1, their baggage is loaded on plane 1, which then leaves 32 the barge and goes to the runway and takes off 11. Barge 31 is not stationary During this process and several operations take place while the plane is fixed on the barge. Thus, Figure 6 illustrates the movement of passengers arriving in the system of Figure 5. Plane 1 lands 2 on the runway and takes 30 on the barge 31. Arriving passengers disembark 5 and pass through a immigration control area 13. Their baggage 6 is unloaded from plane 1 and transported to a baggage sorting area 15 and from there to a baggage collection area 16, where arriving passengers pick up their baggage 6. All this activity takes place on the barge 31, while this barge 31 proceeds along a road in the water to a port 34. This barge 31 then docks at port 34, where incoming passengers leave this barge 31 and by a high-speed conveyor 35 go to a terminal 12. From here, go to a shopping area 14 exempt from duties and a customs control area 17, and then leave the terminal building 12 for transportation 18 ahead. Figure 7 shows the movement of the transfer passengers in the system of Figure 5. After the aircraft 1 approaches the barge 31, the transfer passengers 19 disembark. When barge 31 docks at port 34, transfer passengers 19 leave barge 31 and go to transit room 36 at port 34. When they are ready to depart, transfer passengers 19 board a second barge 33, which leaves port 34, and board a second plane 37. Their baggage 20 is unloaded from aircraft 1 and transported to classification area 15 thereof on barge 31. Then they are transported to second barge 33 via port 34 and they are loaded in the second airplane 37. Once fully charged, the second aircraft 37 leaves 32 the second barge 33 and goes to a runway and takes off 11. Figure 8 shows the movement of the passengers 25 arriving in the system of Figure 5. These passengers 25 arrive at terminal 12 by means of of transport 18 and pass through a security check area 38, where they can present their tickets and passports, in order to enter the shopping area 14 exempt from duties. The arriving passengers are then transported by a high-speed conveyor 35 to port 34 where they pass through a subsequent security check area 39. In this security check area, the identity of departing passengers can be ascertained or The check can be carried out on the passengers and their suitcases. The departing passengers then board the barge 31 and proceed to the checking area 40. After this, they pass through the immigration control area 41 and board the aircraft 1. Their baggage 27 is passed from the checking area 40 to the area of baggage classification 15 and loaded on aircraft 1., which then leaves barge 31 and takes off from a runway. Figure 9 shows an alternative movement of the transfer passengers 19 in the system of Figure 5. In this, the transfer passengers leave the barge 31 to reach port 34, as in Figure 7. However, they are transported by a high-speed people transporter 35, to terminal 12, where they can proceed to the duty-free shopping area 14 and / or to the transit hotel 42, before re-boarding the high-speed transporter 35 to return to port 34. Here, they approach a second barge 33 and the second aircraft 37, in the same manner as in Figure 7. Referring now to Figures 10 and 11, a barge 53 is shown in more detail. The barge 53 is self-propelled, being energized to move in all directions and illustrated by carrying an aircraft 51 on its upper deck 52. The passenger escalator 54 and the luggage container elevators 56 extend from the lower deck 58 toward the level 57 of the aircraft access door 51 to allow passengers and their baggage to embark / disembark the aircraft from / to the lower deck 58. In addition, service elevators 55 may extend from the lower deck 58 to the aircraft 51 to allow service and equipment personnel to have access to the aircraft. The upper cover 52 includes a guide system 59 for parking the aircraft, which brings the aircraft in the correct position on the barge 51. The passenger escalator 54, the luggage container elevators 56, service elevators 55 and parking guidance system 59 of the aircraft, are all movable upwardly to the respective positions, shown in Figure 10. In addition, the units for refueling the aircraft, energy, air pre-conditioning, personal services, service water and compressed air to start the aircraft engines (all of which are based on conventional units and are not shown) can be moved up to the operating positions on the upper deck 52. However, when an aircraft is not present on the upper cover 52, all these products can be lowered so that the upper cover 52 is free for an aircraft to be driven / towed on / off splazado of the cover. When an airplane is transported on or off a barge moored on the runway, this barge can be supported from below by cats placed on the seabed, in order to increase its stability. Likewise, the barges can be specific for a particular type or series of aircraft (for example, the positions of the access doors of a Boeing 747 can be the same as those of a Boeing 737, etc.). However, it is convenient that each barge can handle different aircraft when possible. The plane service takes place while barge 52 travels from the runway to port 34, while docking at port 34 and while traveling from port 34 to the runway. It is anticipated that each barge will be able to service two or three aircraft before servicing it. Referring now to Figure 12, the barge 53 is shown moving within a water path 60 of predetermined path, which is defined by a series of guides 61. The guides 61 are placed a distance "a / 4" apart, where "a" is the length of the barge. As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the guide 61 comprises a pre-molded concrete pillar cover 62, which is supported by concrete piles 63 sunk into the seabed and includes slides 64 extending from the same. Attached to the slides 64 is a float roller mechanism 65, which contains the rollers 66 that contact the side 68 of the barge. It will be appreciated that the roller mechanism 65 floats and is placed in the slides 64 to allow them to float in the sea, despite variations in sea level 67. The runway of the airport of the present invention may be completely (or partially) placed on a platform above the sea, with the terminal building being on the shore and the barges operating between the terminal building and the runway. Alternatively, the runway and the terminal building can be placed on the ground with the barges operating between them. In addition, it is preferred that there is more than one port for the barges to dock, thus allowing an aircraft to be loaded / unloaded at the same time. These ports can be physically separated from the terminal building, or they can be built on land or above the sea, or they can be part of the terminal building. The airport may also include an aircraft maintenance area on the ground, in which the aircraft can be repaired, etc., and which is accessed by an airplane by means of the barge carrying the aircraft, which docks in the area of the aircraft. maintenance and leaves the barge. The airport also preferably includes an area in which the barges receive service. In the foregoing, the present invention has been described with reference to a track on a platform above the sea (or in whole or in part), with the vehicle being a self-propelled barge operating within a system of contained movement trajectories ( barge routes). The present invention is not limited to this specific example. For example, it is possible that the runway is supported above the sea by other means or that the runway is built on land or above any body of water, such as a river or a lake. The vehicle does not need to be a barge and does not need to operate only on a body of water. Likewise, it is considered within the scope of the present invention that the barge can be converted to be used for alternative purposes, for example in moments of national emergency, disaster relief or military action. For example, a plurality of barges can be connected together to be used as a mobile base for a warplane.

Claims (38)

1. CLAIMS 1. An airport, which includes: a runway for a plane to land / take off from; at least one vehicle, to take the airplane from / to the runway and to / from an unloading / embarkation site, in which passengers disembark / embark from / to the vehicles; a terminal building; and an element to transport passengers from / to the landing / boarding site to / from the terminal building.
2. 2. An airport, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising predetermined trajectories along which the vehicle travels between the runway and the landing / boarding site.
3. 3. An airport, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the predetermined paths are defined waterways, and the vehicle is a barge.
4. 4. An airport, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the runway is built on the sea.
5. 5. An airport, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the vehicle includes a resource for passengers to embark / disembark to / from the aircraft.
6. 6. An airport, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle includes a resource loading / unloading the baggage and / or cargo to / from the aircraft.
7. 7. An airport, as claimed in claim 6, in which the vehicle includes resources for arriving passengers to collect their luggage.
8. 8. An airport, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the vehicle is adapted and equipped to service the aircraft.
9. 9. An airport, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the vehicle includes a check area and an immigration control area for departing passengers.
10. 10. An airport, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the disembarkation / boarding site includes a transit lounge for transfer passengers.
11. 11. An airport, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the disembarkation / boarding site includes a security check area for departing passengers.
12. 12. An airport, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the terminal building includes a security check area for departing passengers.
13. 13. A method for operating an airport, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, this method comprises: when an aircraft lands on the runway, transporting this aircraft over a vehicle, in which arriving passengers disembark from the aircraft; transporting the airplane on the vehicle from the runway to the disembarkation / embarkation site, arriving passengers disembark from the vehicle when it arrives at the disembarkation / embarkation site; transport passengers arriving from the disembarkation / boarding site to the terminal building; transporting passengers departing from the terminal building to the disembarkation / boarding site for these departing passengers to board the vehicle; and transporting the aircraft over the vehicle, from the disembarkation / boarding place to the runway, from which the aircraft is going to take off, the departing passengers embark the aircraft on the vehicle, the aircraft receives service while it is on the vehicle.
14. 14. A method to operate an airport, this method includes: when an airplane lands, on a runway of the airport, to transport this airplane on a vehicle in which the passengers that arrive from the airplane disembark of this airplane; transporting the airplane over the vehicle from the runway to an unloading / boarding site in which arriving passengers disembark from the vehicle; transporting passengers arriving from the disembarkation / boarding site to a terminal building; transporting passengers departing from the terminal building to the disembarkation / boarding site for these departing passengers to board the vehicle; and transporting the aircraft over the vehicle from the landing / boarding site to the runway for the aircraft to take off, departing passengers board the aircraft on the vehicle, the aircraft receives service while it is on the vehicle.
15. 15. A method, as claimed in claim 13 or 14, in which arriving passengers pass through an immigration control area in the vehicle.
16. 16. A method, as claimed in claim 13 14 or 15, in which the luggage of arriving passengers is unloaded from the aircraft and picked up by these passengers arriving while they are on the vehicle.
17. 17. A method, as claimed in any of claims 13 to 16, in which arriving passengers leave the terminal building through the customs control area.
18. 18. A method, as claimed in any of claims 13 to 17, in which departing passengers enter the terminal building through a security check area.
19. 19. A method, as claimed in any of claims 13 to 18, in which departing passengers enter the disembarkation / boarding site through the security check area.
20. 20. A method, as claimed in any of claims 13 to 19, in which departing passengers pass through a checking area in the vehicle.
21. 21. A method, as claimed in claim 20, in which the luggage of departing passengers is deposited in the checking area, from where they are loaded onto the aircraft.
22. 22. A method for the handling of passengers arriving at an airport on an airplane, this method includes: when the plane lands on a runway at the airport, transporting this aircraft over a vehicle in which arriving passengers disembark from the plane; transporting the airplane on the vehicle from the runway to an unloading / boarding site in which arriving passengers disembark from the vehicle; and transporting passengers arriving from the disembarkation / boarding site to a terminal building.
23. 23. A method, as claimed in claim 22, in which arriving passengers pass through the immigration control area in the vehicle.
24. 24. A method, as claimed in claim 22 or claim 23, in which the luggage of arriving passengers is unloaded from the aircraft and picked up by passengers arriving while they are on the vehicle.
25. 25. A method, as claimed in claims 22, 23 or 24, in which arriving passengers leave the terminal building through the customs control area.
26. 26. A method to handle departing passengers, who leave an airport on an airplane, this method includes: transporting passengers departing from a terminal building to an unloading / embarkation site so that departing passengers embark on a vehicle that takes them to an airplane; and transporting the aircraft over the vehicle, from the landing / embarkation site to a runway for the aircraft to take off, departing passengers board the aircraft on the vehicle.
27. 27. A method, as claimed in claim 26, in which departing passengers enter the terminal building through a security check area.
28. 28. A method, as claimed in claim 26 or claim 27, in which departing passengers enter the disembarkation / boarding site through a security check area.
29. 29. One method, as claimed in claims 26, 27 or 28, in which departing passengers pass through a check area on the vehicle.
30. 30. A method, as claimed in claim 29, in which the luggage of departing passengers is deposited in the check area, from where it is loaded onto the aircraft.
31. 31. A method to handle transfer passengers arriving at an airport on a first plane, this method comprises: when the first plane lands on a runway of the airport, transporting this first plane on a first vehicle, on which the transfer passengers disembark from first plane; transporting this first plane over the first vehicle, from the runway to an unloading / embarkation site, in which the transfer passengers disembark from the first vehicle and proceed to a transit area; transport the transfer passengers from the transit area so they can board a second vehicle carrying a second plane; transporting the second aircraft over the second vehicle, from the landing / boarding site to the runway, for this second aircraft to take off, the transfer passengers embark on the second aircraft on the second vehicle.
32. 32. A method to handle transfer passengers arriving at an airport on a first plane, this method comprises: when the first plane lands on a runway of the airport, transporting the first plane on a first vehicle, on which the transfer passengers disembark from first plane; transporting the first aircraft over the second vehicle from the runway to a disembarkation / boarding site in which the transfer passengers disembark from the first vehicle; transporting transfer passengers from the disembarkation / boarding site to a transit area in a terminal building; transport the transfer passengers from the terminal building to the disembarkation / embarkation site so that they embark on a second vehicle carrying a second plane; transporting the second aircraft over the second vehicle, from the landing / boarding site to the runway for the second aircraft to take off, the transfer passengers embark on the second aircraft on the second vehicle.
33. 33. A method, as claimed in claim 31 or claim 32, wherein the transit area comprises a transit hotel and / or a transit lounge and / or an exempt shopping area.
34. 34. An airport, substantially as described hereinabove with reference to Figures 5 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.
35. 35. A method for operating an airport substantially as described hereinabove with reference to Figures 5 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.
36. 36. A method for handling passengers arriving at an airport on an airplane, substantially as described hereinabove with reference to Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.
37. 37. A method for handling departing passengers, who leave an airport on an aircraft, substantially as described hereinabove with reference to Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings.
38. 38. A method for handling transfer passengers arriving at an airport, substantially as described hereinabove with reference to Figures 7 or 9 of the accompanying drawings.