Body scanners are realistically safer but simulate than metal detectors in-game.
Minimize the tiles between the ID check, the scanner, and the exit zone.
Passengers drop off luggage and pass through screening. Critical Mechanics to Keep in Mind
Run a "servicing corridor" behind your security walls using small staff doors so janitors can reach the queue from the secure side.
Do not mix a standard Metal Detector with an Advanced Bag Scanner in the same sub-lane. The mismatched processing times cause passengers to wait indefinitely for their bags or vice versa, completely stalling the lane. simairport security layout verified
Passengers move in a straight line. The AI never gets confused about which machine is "theirs," minimizing pathfinding recalculations. 2. The Shared-Queue Modular Grid (Medium Terminals)
A massive dedicated wing of the airport, minimum 40x30 tiles. The Layout:
Create a designated Queue area using the zoning tool. Make the queue at least 2 tiles wide to prevent pathfinding "clustering." Ensure the queue snakes tightly to save terminal space but has a straight 3-tile run leading directly to the ID Check gates. Phase 2: The ID Check Alignment
If you have spent any time staring at the grid of SimAirport , you know the feeling. It starts as a trickle: a few angry thought bubbles above a businessman’s head. Then, it escalates into a human tsunami. Before you know it, your entire terminal is a screaming mob of missed flights, vomit on the floor, and a security line that snakes past the ticket counters and out the front door. Body scanners are realistically safer but simulate than
: A truly optimized layout always includes a dedicated line for flight crew and first-class passengers. You should set aside one security lane in your checkpoint exclusively for them. This prevents crew delays that can hold up entire flights.
Even a perfect layout will fail if you schedule ten A380 flights to depart at the exact same hour. Space your flight blocks by at least 15–30 in-game minutes to give your verified security layout time to clear the waves cleanly.
Don't just copy a blueprint from the internet. Use the math above (2 slides per scanner, 10-tile queue buffer, 1-tile gaps) to build your own layout. Then, run the 6 AM stress test. When you see 2,000 passengers glide through your metal detectors without a single red exclamation mark, you will know your layout isn't just working—it is .
Optimizing Your SimAirport Security Layout: Verified Designs for Maximum Passenger Throughput Critical Mechanics to Keep in Mind Run a
Plants, trash cans, or seating inside the immediate security layout path can block passenger walking lines, forcing them to take longer routes.
A layout is not "verified" until it survives .
3. The High-Throughput "Fishbone" Matrix (International Hubs)