What does throughput capacity represent?

Throughput capacity is primarily concerned with the rate of operations at an airport. It refers to the ability of the airport to process a certain volume of aircraft movements per unit of time, without factoring in any delays that may arise from various operational or environmental conditions. This means throughput capacity specifically focuses on how efficiently aircraft can take off and land, reflecting the airport's operational efficiency under ideal conditions.

When considering other options, while the maximum number of passengers an airport can serve may seem relevant, it is more reflective of terminal capacity rather than throughput. The number of runways available for use relates to physical infrastructure but does not directly capture the operational performance under ideal scenarios. Average flight duration does not provide insight into operational capacity at the airport, but instead reflects service efficiency over time on a specific route. Thus, the definition of throughput capacity is best aligned with the rate at which aircraft operate without considering delay.