Evolution and Future of Airport Passenger Terminals

The increase in air transportation has led to a substantial change in the function and design of airport terminals. From simple ticket counters and snack bars, terminals have grown to enormous complexes. The need to limit passenger-walking distances has led to the development of the satellite concept in combination with mobile lounges and moving sidewalks. Airport passenger terminal design in the United States has evolved with the growth of commercial air transportation. Simple aircraft and passenger procedures have given way to complex ones. The number and size of aircraft on the ramp have increased more than one hundred-fold since the 1920’s. Even the passengers have changed from a few to hundreds of thousands with increasingly greater demands for comfort and convenience.