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Volume 11
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10.3390/infrastructures11030083
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Article

Comparative Analysis of Apron Capacity with the Progressive Introduction of Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft

by
Federico Del Duca
1,
Giulia Del Serrone
2,
Paola Di Mascio
2,*,
Federica Frammartino
1,
Eleonora Luciano
1 and
Laura Moretti
2
1
ENAV Ente Nazionale Assistenza al Volo, Via Salaria, 00138 Rome, Italy
2
Department of Civil, Building and Environmental Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, 00184 Rome, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Infrastructures 2026, 11(3), 83; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures11030083
Submission received: 5 February 2026 / Revised: 27 February 2026 / Accepted: 4 March 2026 / Published: 6 March 2026
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Abstract

Aviation is currently facing one of its greatest challenges: reconciling growing traffic demand with the need to drastically reduce climate-altering emissions. Hydrogen has emerged as one of the most promising alternatives to decarbonize air transport. However, it poses significant challenges related to cryogenic storage, safety, and the adaptation of the airport infrastructure. Aprons represent a critical issue, as the increased volume of fuel tanks and different refueling protocols directly impact airport operational capacity. This research fits within this framework by analyzing a Code 4E Italian airport over three time horizons: 2025, with an all-kerosene fleet; 2035, with a 25% penetration of hydrogen-powered class A and B aircraft; and 2045, with a further increase in the hydrogen share (75% class A and B and 15% class C). The study evaluates apron capacity using fast-time simulation and compares the outcomes with an analytical model. The results show good consistency between theoretical and simulated capacity. The 2035 and 2045 scenarios with the introduction of hydrogen-powered aircraft show a reduction in apron capacity between 16% and 5% compared to conventional scenarios.
Keywords: hydrogen-powered aircraft; capacity assessment; airport; apron; stand; fast-time simulation; analytical method; hydrogen; turnaround hydrogen-powered aircraft; capacity assessment; airport; apron; stand; fast-time simulation; analytical method; hydrogen; turnaround

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MDPI and ACS Style

Del Duca, F.; Del Serrone, G.; Di Mascio, P.; Frammartino, F.; Luciano, E.; Moretti, L. Comparative Analysis of Apron Capacity with the Progressive Introduction of Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft. Infrastructures 2026, 11, 83. https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures11030083

AMA Style

Del Duca F, Del Serrone G, Di Mascio P, Frammartino F, Luciano E, Moretti L. Comparative Analysis of Apron Capacity with the Progressive Introduction of Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft. Infrastructures. 2026; 11(3):83. https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures11030083

Chicago/Turabian Style

Del Duca, Federico, Giulia Del Serrone, Paola Di Mascio, Federica Frammartino, Eleonora Luciano, and Laura Moretti. 2026. "Comparative Analysis of Apron Capacity with the Progressive Introduction of Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft" Infrastructures 11, no. 3: 83. https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures11030083

APA Style

Del Duca, F., Del Serrone, G., Di Mascio, P., Frammartino, F., Luciano, E., & Moretti, L. (2026). Comparative Analysis of Apron Capacity with the Progressive Introduction of Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft. Infrastructures, 11(3), 83. https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures11030083

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