1 research outputs found
Framework development for improving arrival processing of pilgrims at Hajj and Umrah airport terminals
Millions of Muslims around the world perform the Hajj, a mandatory religious
journey to the holy city of Mecca, at least once in their lifetime. Therefore,
hundreds of thousands of pilgrims arrive weekly at Jeddah and Medina Airports
during the Hajj period determined by the Islamic calendar. Numerous research
studies have been published on the health, security, risk management and
logistics aspects of the mass gathering. However, studies on pilgrims’ wait times,
flow and satisfaction at the Hajj and Umrah Terminals (HT)s are very limited. The
research evaluating the inbound passenger domain is especially limited.
Therefore, this study contributes to the literature by combining different
perspectives regarding the inefficiency of HT processes. Furthermore, this study
proposes and investigates various aspects to improve the processing of arriving
passengers at HTs. It does so by identifying and studying the factors that impede
the flow of passengers within these terminals from users’ and providers’
perspectives. This research aims to contribute by developing an innovative
integrated framework to improve the flow of pilgrims through arrival terminals and
determining how large crowds at airports can be better managed. To meet the
study’s aims, a simulation model is developed to verify and confirm the
performance of arrival passenger processes at HTs by conducting a mixedmethods analysis and integrating the numerical results of the agent-based and
discrete-event simulation models. This study creates a problematic review matrix
based on users’ and providers’ perspectives. In addition, the survey on providers’
perspectives indicates that there are five factors, human, infrastructure,
operational, technical and organisational factors, influencing arrival passenger
processes at HTs and interacting with level of service (LoS) variables. The study
indicates the suboptimal processes at airport terminals to focus on the factors
negatively affecting the HT processes. In addition, the research highlights the role
of terminal configurations. This study compares two airports in terms of peak
demand patterns. According to the study, sharp peaks can have strong negative
impacts on HTs, while evenly distributed demand can improve LoS at HTs. The
simulation model outcomes verify and confirm the parameters and factors
influencing LoS. In addition, the study’s integrated framework provides diverse viewpoints on the operational processes at HTs, while the density map matrix
helps to classify the processes. This study applies what-if scenarios to identify
the impact of pilgrims’ experience and biometric characteristics and finds that
inexperience and certain biometric characteristics have negative impacts on LoS.
Limitations of the study and suggestions for future research are discussed.Transport System