Airport complexity and environmental efficiency metrics for air traffic management evaluation

The aviation industry is experiencing significant growth due to the growing global demand for air travel. The International Civil Aviation Organization predicts that air passenger volumes will quadruple by 2040, putting pressure on airport infrastructure and airspace capacity. This growth is causing environmental challenges, particularly concerning emissions from aircraft operations and airport activities. These emissions contribute to local air pollution and global climate change. Airports are complex operational hubs, requiring sophisticated planning and efficient operations management to mitigate emissions and maximize throughput. This thesis investigates how airport complexity and air traffic management strategies influence inefficiencies in fuel use, time, cost, and environmental impact. Traffic scenarios were generated and analysed using MATLAB code, calculating emissions and fuel consumption across all phases of the landing and take-off (LTO) cycle. The results show significant differences in operational efficiency and environmental impact, offering insights into the effectiveness of modern traffic control methods.