Plane passenger count not matching number of visible passengers (Airports DLC)

[Nielsen]

I have noticed that the passenger count shown when inspecting planes does not always add up with the the amount of visible passengers moving around inside the concourses (go to public transport management view to make the airport structures transparent).

For example, a jumbojet can arrive at a large plane stand with a passenger count of 178. However, oftentimes I can only see 10-15 passengers leaving the plane once it has arrived at the plane stand. There are similar mismatching numbers for passengers boarding on departing flights. So what’s causing this? Bug or passengers teleporting between the different airport structures?

For reference, there has always been direct correlation between visual representation and the passenger numbers across the existing public transport modes in the game, meaning the passengers you see boarding on platforms (busses, metro, etc.) also match the passenger count shown on the vehicles. So why are the new airports behaving differently in this regard?

 

[jcitron]

I've noticed that as well, but I've also observed huge crowds exit from the side entrance near my bus terminal and cross the road to my nearby train station because I decided not to put in the DLC station due my rail line being at ground level. That station too is really busy with passengers too also going into the airport which means people are definitely using the airport but are not seen. Maybe what we see near the windows and in line view isn't representing all the passengers inside the airport.

 

[Nielsen]

If these plane passengers actually do leave the airport despite oftentimes being invisible while boarding, then it’s probably not a big deal. However, if they simply disappear into the abyss, then it’s not good for city-wide tourism. Well, now it has been brought to attention at the very least.

 

[jcitron]

I agree. Let's hope it's not culling due to too many tourist-agents in the city because that will defeat the purpose of adding in the airport DLC other than to make something "pretty".