Jet Bridge

A jet bridge is an enclosed, movable walkway connecting an airport terminal gate directly to an aircraft's cabin door, letting passengers board without crossing the tarmac. It's also called a jetway, aerobridge, or passenger boarding bridge. United Airlines installed the first one at San Francisco International Airport in 1959.

A jet bridge is a telescoping steel or aluminum tunnel on a rotating base that extends, retracts, and pivots to align with an aircraft's door. A gate agent or operator controls the movement with a joystick or button panel, adjusting length by up to roughly 100 feet and height by several feet to match the fuselage. Safety sensors prevent the bridge from contacting the aircraft during docking.

Smaller regional airports and some low-cost carrier terminals use exterior stairs or mobile lounges instead, especially for regional jets and turboprops with lower cabin door heights. This is common with budget carriers looking to cut gate fees and turnaround time. Passengers boarding this way should expect longer boarding times and dress for outdoor weather conditions.

A jet bridge is an enclosed, climate-controlled tunnel that connects the terminal directly to the aircraft door, while airstairs are open or covered stairs rolled up to the plane on the tarmac. Jet bridges protect passengers from weather, noise, and jet exhaust; airstairs expose travelers to outdoor conditions and require walking across the ramp. Wide-body aircraft like the Boeing 777 and 787 almost always use jet bridges due to door height and passenger volume.

A typical jet bridge interior is about 6 to 8 feet wide, with telescoping length that can extend up to roughly 100 feet depending on the aircraft and gate configuration. The height adjusts by several feet to match cabin door levels on aircraft ranging from the Airbus A320 to the A350. Leveling mechanisms and weather canopies are standard on modern bridges.

Nearly all major international and domestic hub airports use jet bridges, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, Chicago O'Hare, and Dallas/Fort Worth. They're used across nearly all commercial operations for narrow-body and wide-body jets, including Boeing 737, 777, 787, and Airbus A320, A330, and A350 families. Smaller regional airports more often rely on stairs due to lower passenger volume and cost.

Airlines use stairs at gates where the airport lacks jet bridge infrastructure, at regional airports with lower cabin-height aircraft, or to cut gate fees and speed turnaround for low-cost carriers. This means longer boarding times and direct exposure to weather, especially in extreme heat, cold, or rain. CEOFLIGHTS specialists can help find discounted business class fares — call (888) 851-6897.