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Efficient aircraft turnaround operations at airports are vital to ensure overall air traffic network performance. After the outbreak of COVID-19, the traditional aircraft ground handling process has changed significantly due to new requirements put forward by the pandemic prevention and control policy. To better understand how COVID-19 has affected ground handling operations, a discrete-event simulation model of turnaround is established to analyze the change in the whole turnaround process before and after the pandemic. The critical path of turnaround operations was used to identify the significantly affected subprocesses to which airports should pay attention. For a case study on the two busiest airports in China, the aircraft turnaround time increased by about 18% after COVID-19. Cabin cleaning, catering, and passenger embarking were the main processes in causing this increase. By evaluating the impact mechanism of COVID-19 on turnaround operations, the study sheds light on strategic, tactical, and operational approaches for relevant authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]