Estimating the costs for the airport operator and airlines of a drone-related shutdown: an application to Frankfurt international airport

Philippe Wendt, Augusto Voltes-Dorta () and Pere Suau-Sanchez
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Philippe Wendt: University of Edinburgh Business School
Augusto Voltes-Dorta: University of Edinburgh Business School
Pere Suau-Sanchez: Universitat Oberta de Catalunya

Journal of Transportation Security, 2020, vol. 13, issue 1, No 7, 93-116

Abstract: Abstract Commercially-acquired drones threaten airport operations due to limited knowledge of airspace safety regulations or deliberate action by drone operators. This study aims to determine whether the investment cost of a drone-defence system can be justified in relation to the financial cost of a drone-related shutdown. To that end, a case study of Frankfurt Airport is carried out with simulations of different disruptions during a peak-activity period similar to the 2018 Gatwick drone incident. With data on passenger traffic and airline schedules, we developed a passenger recovery algorithm to determine the amount of delays caused by the disruptions and the costs for the airport operator and the airlines. Results show that the investment in a drone-defence system is offset by the costs of a 48-h continued closure or several smaller closures, but since the largest share of costs is borne by the airlines, investments should be shared between both stakeholders.

Keywords: Drone attack; Airport closure; Cost estimation; Passenger recovery (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1007/s12198-020-00212-4

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