Which statement is true about capacity measurement?

Which statement is true about capacity measurement?

• A. Capacity is measured by the number of aircraft operations per hour
• B. Capacity is measured by passenger throughput per hour
• C. Capacity is measured by cargo volume per hour
• D. Capacity is measured by gate count

Answer: (A)

Capacity is about the maximum rate at which an airport resource can handle activity. For airside capacity, the standard measure is aircraft operations per hour—the total number of landings and takeoffs that can be safely completed in one hour given separation, wake turbulence, weather, and procedures. This metric reflects the physical throughput of runways and taxiways, not how many passengers pass through the terminal or how much cargo moves, which describe demand or service levels rather than infrastructure capability. Gate count can influence capacity by limiting available positions, but it doesn’t itself define the rate at which aircraft can operate. Therefore, capacity is measured by the number of aircraft operations per hour.

Capacity is about the maximum rate at which an airport resource can handle activity. For airside capacity, the standard measure is aircraft operations per hour—the total number of landings and takeoffs that can be safely completed in one hour given separation, wake turbulence, weather, and procedures. This metric reflects the physical throughput of runways and taxiways, not how many passengers pass through the terminal or how much cargo moves, which describe demand or service levels rather than infrastructure capability. Gate count can influence capacity by limiting available positions, but it doesn’t itself define the rate at which aircraft can operate. Therefore, capacity is measured by the number of aircraft operations per hour.