This seems like one of those efficiency-vs-resilience problems. Sure, it's "more efficient" (in cost) to use the same empty/fill process for every plane, but when nobody can leave, some extra capacity to unload planes would help.

(i.e. Unloading to tarmac, buses)

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superturkey650 6 hours ago | parent | next [-]

You don't have to go to a gate to deplane and this is an extremely rare event. They'll just pull up a staircase and have them deplane to a shuttle eventually.

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aschla 5 hours ago | parent [-]

Most U.S. airports aren't equipped to deplane commercial airliners using stairs, especially at this scale.

	▲	bombcar 5 hours ago \| parent [-]
		You empty the planes at the gates and then push them back to parking (or park them on the runway if needed).

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stockresearcher 5 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

O’Hare is under construction. They’re building an entire new terminal and are operating with a lot less spare capacity while that happens.