  We design an optimal group boarding method using a stochastic cellular
automata model for passenger movements, which is extended by a virus
transmission approach. Furthermore, a new mathematical model is developed to
determine an appropriate seat layout for groups. The proposed seating layout is
based on the idea that group members are allowed to have close contact and that
groups should have a distance among each other. The sum of individual
transmission rates is taken as the objective function to derive scenarios with
a low level transmission risk. After the determination of an appropriate seat
layout, the cellular automata is used to derive and evaluate a corresponding
boarding sequence aiming at both short boarding times and low risk of virus
transmission. We find that the consideration of groups in a pandemic scenario
will significantly contribute to a faster boarding (reduction of time by about
60%) and less transmission risk (reduced by 85%), which reaches the level of
boarding times in pre-pandemic scenarios.
