gatetogate

Gatetogate, often written as gate-to-gate in more formal contexts, is an aviation term used to describe the time interval of a flight from the departure gate to the arrival gate. It is one of several measurements flight operations teams use to gauge performance and efficiency on a per-flight basis.

Measurement definitions for gatetogate vary by organization. In many cases it is defined as the period from when the aircraft first begins to move from the departure gate (such as pushback or engine start) to when the aircraft comes to a stop at the arrival gate. Some operators expand the definition to include the taxi to and from the runways, as well as time spent at the gates during taxi and docking. Because of these variations, gatetogate should be interpreted in the context of an individual airline or airport policy.

Gatetogate is used primarily as an operational performance metric. It helps airlines evaluate on-time performance, network connectivity, and overall aircraft utilization. By comparing gatetogate times across routes, fleets, and airports, operators can identify bottlenecks and target improvements in scheduling, ground handling, and air traffic flow management.

Factors influencing gatetogate durations include airport congestion, taxiway layouts, air traffic control sequencing, weather conditions, gate availability, and the efficiency of ground services. Optimization efforts often focus on reducing taxi times, improving turnarounds, coordinating gate assignments, and implementing efficient routing procedures for buses and aircraft movements.

See also: block time, turnaround time, on-time performance, air traffic management.