Aircraft manufacturers are developing a new generation of very large aircraft — known as New Large Aircraft — that will supersede any existing ones both in size and seat capacity. The Airbus A380 is scheduled to enter service in 2006 and the Boeing 747X could follow suit soon after.

Due to their larger dimensions and seat capacity, the New Large Aircraft will impact the planning and operation of airports. The design and operation of the airside system—comprised of runways, taxiways and aprons—will be highly affected by the New Large Aircraft's unprecedented wingspan, length, height and weight. Its high passenger capacity will affect the passenger terminal, as more passengers and baggage will require processing and accommodation in the check-in, security check, departure lounge, baggage claim, customs and immigration areas. Determining these effects and seeking solutions for those problems comprise the object of this thesis.

Since the airside effects of the New Large Aircraft have been extensively studied by several institutions, this thesis focuses on the issues related to the passenger terminal planning. Five main issues are analysed in more detail:​ the gate requirement, the terminal configuration, the sizing of the departure lounge, the processing of passengers and the design of the baggage claim area. As the full-scale operation of the New Large Aircraft is still years ahead, this thesis concentrates on developing mathematical models that will help in the early stages of airport planning. Thus an analytical approach is chosen with the use of deterministic models suitable for when important decisions must be made with little data available.

Several separate models are developed to analyse the five issues cited above. It is shown that, with the use of proper operational and structural measures, it is possible to accommodate the New Large Aircraft in an effective, economical manner.