            GUIZZI G., MURINO T., ROMANO E. Department of Material Engineering and Production University of Naples “Federico II” Piazzale Tecchio, 80 – 80125 Napoli ITALY g.guizzi@unina.it , murino@unina.it , elromano@unina.it , http://www.impianti.unina.it Abstract:  The Paper describes the analysis of passenger flow in the terminal airport, from entrance to boarding. In particular this study develops a simulation model. Based on the Discrete Event theory, that can be used to build a structure that helps to predict delay and to produce a logical and rational management of check7in and security checkpoint inside the airport terminal. The proposed model, tested in the South Italian reality (Capodichino – Naples International Airport), has a modular architecture and interface, enabling quick and easy model building and providing the capability of being adaptable to the configuration and operational characteristics of a wide range of airport terminals. KeyWords:  Decision support system, modeling, discrete event simulation and optimization, airport terminal analysis.   An airport is an operational system comprising of a framework of infrastructures, facilities, personnel which collectively provide a service to a costumer. Each airport is to be: 7 An ideal point of interchange among different means of inland transport (such as road and rail system) and air system; 7 A services’ centre, because it must provide the necessary services for ticketing, boarding, deboarding, documentation, control of passengers and goods; 7 A point of connection between arrivals and departures, since it must ensure an easy transit from a system of continuous arrivals (which is the users flow) to a system of discrete departures (which are the scheduled flights). The overall experience of a passenger at an airport can be demanding and time consuming. Delays occur with parking, checking in, security screening, and boarding. The less time the costumer spends in the systems, the higher the satisfaction. However, at the same time, the airport is obliged to hold standards that the passengers must meet. These standards include proper identification, limited luggage weight, and safety procedures at the security checkpoint [1]. Although passengers acknowledge the need for increased security, delayed boarding, cancelled flights, long waiting time have created an environment of passenger dissatisfaction. Therefore operational efficiency at an airport can have a direct impact on safety, user and costumer satisfaction and also at the financial performance of the airport. In this respect there is a need for a decision support tool that will address complex processes and adopt a quantitative view and system thinking approach for airport terminal system analysis. The reminder of this paper is structured into six main sections. Section 2 provides a problem formulation relate to the functional area in the airport terminal and the prevalent criticalities. Section 3 provides a literature review of the existing model and tools for airport terminal performance analysis. Section 4 presents the overall methodological approach adopted. Section 5 provides data collection need to simulation model, Section 6 presents the architecture of the proposed simulation model. Section 7, finally, provides the critical results of simulation and optimization models tested on the Naples International Airport and some concluding remarks.    The terminal system can be decomposed into three functional areas representing activities related to the access interface, the process and the flight interface.    Arrived at the airport with different transportation modes, passengers before taking part in the boarding process must perform different operations. The activities taking place in this area regarding the movement, parking of vehicles, bus and taxi station for loading arriving passengers and unloading the departing ones.   It is an area located just inside the terminal where all passengers and arriving and departing or in transit luggage7meaning that the passengers have a stopover at the airport and must continue their journey by plane7 are processed. In order to ensure a correct sorting of passengers at the airport it is convenient to separate the arriving passengers flow from the departure one. In most new airports arrivals and departures are handled on separate levels, with departures generally located on the upper level. The main activities regarding the ticketing service, check7in passengers with its seats allocation, check7in baggage, inspection services and security control; MATHEMATICAL METHODS AND APPLIED COMPUTING ISSN: 1790-2769 427 ISBN: 978-960-474-124-3