Originally Posted by FWAAA

Exactly. I've climbed up and down airstairs (even wet and slippery ones) in DUB, LHR and FRA and other first world airports in recent times.

A major part of the problem, IMO, is the mindset that passengers simply can't be let off an airplane unless it's connected to a jetbridge or parked within 50-100 feet of the terminal doorway.

I understand not deplaning on a runway or active taxiway. But the airport bureaucracy simply must adapt to the reality that passengers cannot be held hostage on parked airplanes just because there's an operational meltdown that's preventing the plane from finding an open gate/jetbridge.