Melbourne Airport Fast-Time Simulation for a Major Airline

the airline engaged Cignus to model Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) using AirTOp fast-time simulation as part of a strategic capacity assessment for future network growth. The objective was to evaluate how alternative flight schedules, aircraft mix changes, and terminal re-design concepts would interact with airfield and gate infrastructure — providing quantitative evidence to support long-term investment decisions.

Cignus built a high-fidelity AirTOp model of MEL airfield, taxiway network, and gate complex, calibrated to current OAG schedule data and ground movement procedures. Three future schedule scenarios representing different growth trajectories were simulated across representative peak and off-peak periods, yielding metrics for runway throughput, gate utilisation, block-out delay, and taxi congestion.

Two terminal re-design options — differing in gate adjacency layout and apron configuration — were evaluated within the same simulation framework, enabling direct comparison of their capacity benefits and operational trade-offs. The study identified specific gating bottlenecks that would constrain on-time performance at projected 2027 traffic levels, allowing the airline to prioritise the highest-value infrastructure investment ahead of the Melbourne Airport Master Plan update.