linear terminal

A linear terminal is an airport terminal design where aircraft are parked at gates directly adjacent to the terminal building itself. This design typically uses air bridges to transfer passengers between the terminal and the aircraft. The primary limitation of the linear concept is the extensive building length required, which can lead to long walking distances for passengers and operational complexities. Building lengths are generally limited to around 800 meters (2,650 feet). Examples of linear terminal designs can be found at airports like Kansas City International Airport, Munich Airport, and Charles de Gaulle Airport near Paris. This design evolved as airports grew, making it impractical for large numbers of passengers to walk across the apron to board aircraft, as was common in older open apron designs.1