Turnaround Operations
A turnaround is the complete set of ground activities required to prepare an aircraft for its next flight after arriving at a gate. Understanding turnarounds helps you read the OCC timeline and plan your schedule.
Standard vs Quick Turnaround
| Type | Trigger | Key Differences |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Turnaround | Aircraft has been on the ground for several hours or is arriving from a different operator | Full catering, thorough cabin cleaning, complete security check, water/lavatory service |
| Quick Turnaround (QT) | The same pilot/operator flew the aircraft within the last ~5 hours | Reduced catering (top-up only), quick clean (seat pockets and tray tables), shortened water service |
How Quick Turnaround is Detected
The system automatically detects a quick turnaround when:
- You book and dispatch a new flight
- The system checks if you filed a PIREP in the same aircraft within the configurable time window (default: 5 hours)
- If yes, ground handling times are reduced and the timeline shows a “QT” indicator
Typical Turnaround Times
| Aircraft Category | Standard Turn | Quick Turn |
|---|---|---|
| Narrowbody (A320, B737) | 45-60 minutes | 25-35 minutes |
| Widebody (A330, B777, B787) | 70-90 minutes | 45-55 minutes |
| Super Widebody (A380, B747) | 90-120 minutes | 60-75 minutes |
Factors Affecting Turnaround Time
- Aircraft size — More seats = longer boarding, more cargo = longer loading
- Passenger count — A full flight takes longer to board than a half-empty one
- Catering requirements — Long-haul flights need more galley carts loaded
- Fuel uplift — More fuel to load = longer fueling time
- Cargo volume — More containers/pallets to load in the hold
- Quick turn discount — Several activities are shortened or skipped
Critical Path
In any turnaround, certain activities are on the critical path — meaning they determine the minimum possible turnaround time. Typically, passenger boarding is the critical path item for narrowbodies, while catering and fueling can be critical for widebody long-haul flights.
The OCC timeline visualises parallel tracks precisely to help you see which activities are running simultaneously and which are sequential.