Note: This article pertaining to Remote Stands: Like Them or Not? was originally published on Thursday, August 7, 2025 at 11:53 in the morning and has been updated.
Do you like using what are known at airports as remote stands, with which airplanes are parked on the remote part of the apron at an airport instead of at a gate that is equipped with a jet bridge?
Remote Stands: Like Them or Not?
Remote stands are typically used by certain airlines; with regional jets, propellor airplanes, and other types of smaller aircraft; and at certain airports around the world — especially those which do not have enough gates to accommodate traffic.
With airplanes parked at remote stands, passengers are either escorted from the gate out onto the apron using a staircase to board an airplane rather than an enclosed jet bridge; or exit the aircraft down a flight of stairs to be escorted across the apron back into the terminal building.
Disadvantages and advantages pertaining to the use of remote stands include:
Disadvantages of Remote Stands
- More time is usually needed between the gate and the aircraft — especially if a bus is involved — as the gate usually tends to be at ground level at the far corners of the airport terminal
- Inclement weather such as precipitation, wind, or cold temperatures does affect passengers — even if only for a few minutes
- Although elite level status members may board the bus first, that benefit is often typically negligible
- Gate areas for aircraft that are parked at remote stands tend to be smaller in size — and therefore usually more crowded — than those equipped with jet bridges
- When deplaning a larger aircraft, you could be waiting for your checked baggage at the bottom of the stairs
Advantages of Remote Stands
- Passengers get to enjoy the weather when it is terrific — such as a warm sunny day or a clear cool starry evening
- If you are an aviation enthusiast, you can get some of the best photographs of airplanes — and parts of the airport, for that matter — right there on the apron
- You get to feel like a world leader for a few seconds — no world leader who is worth his or her salt would ever dare use a jet bridge, right?!? — and do not forget to turn around for a second and gesture that hand wave at your admiring constituents as you walk up those stairs; and women get extra points for wearing clean white gloves
- When leaving a smaller aircraft such as a regional jet, your checked baggage may be waiting for you at the bottom of the stairs
- Finding a parking spot for the aircraft out on the apron is usually easier than to find an available open gate if the flight concludes early
Final Boarding Call
I have used remote stands multiple times at airports around the world over the years — such as in Rome, Dublin, and Shanghai. I personally prefer not to use remote stands in general myself; but I certainly do not hate using them and will usually not rant about them.
Am I missing anything from the above lists? Please let your thoughts be known in the Comments section below. Thank you.
All photographs ©2014, ©2015, ©2018, and ©2024 by Brian Cohen.
