Airline Operations Research

The increase in practical problems generated by the intensive growth in air transport has necessitated the development of specialised operations research methods and modern computer technology. By combining operational research data from both scientific publications and airline companies, this book, first published in 1988, provides a unique source of information for those working on the development and application of operations research analysis in air transportation. Topics include air transport analysis, flight frequency determination, the scheduling of flights and personnel, and the problems of airline overbooking.

The increase in practical problems generated by the intensive growth in air transport has necessitated the development of specialised operations research methods and modern computer technology. By combining operational research data from both scientific publications and airline companies, this book, first published in 1988, provides a unique source of information for those working on the development and application of operations research analysis in air transportation. Topics include air transport analysis, flight frequency determination, the scheduling of flights and personnel, and the problems of airline overbooking.

260 2 Crew Legalities and Crew Pairing Repair 264 3 Model and Mathematical Formulation 266 4 Solution Methodology 271 5 Computational Experiences 277 6 Conclusion 285 REFERENCES 286 10 THE USE OF OPTIMIZATION TO PERFORM AIR TRAFFIC FLOW MANAGEMENT Kenneth Lindsay, E. Andrew Boyd, George Booth, and Charles Harvey 287 1 Introduction 288 2 The Traffic Flow Management (TFM) Problem 289 3 Recent TFM Optimization Models 292 4 The Time Assignment Model (TAM) 302 5 Summary and Conclusions 307 REFERENCES 309 11 THE PROCESSES OF AIRLINE SYSTEM OPERATIONS CONTROL Seth C. Grandeau, Michael D. Clarke, and Dennis F.X. Mathaisel 312 1 Introduction 313 2 The Four Phases of Airline Schedule Development 315 The Airline Operations Control Center (OCC) 3 320 4 Analysis of Operational Problems 331 5 Areas For Improvement 352 6 Case Study: PT Garuda Indonesia Airlines 357 REFERENCES 368 12 THE COMPLEX CONFIGURATION MODEL Bruce W. Patty and Jim Diamond 370 1 Introduction 370 Problem Description 2 371 Problem Formulation 3 375 4 Model Implementation 379 ix Contents 383 5 Summary REFERENCES 383 13 INTEGRATED AIRLINE SCHEDULE PLANNING Cynthia Barnhart, Fang Lu, and Rajesh Shenoi 384 1 Introduction 385 2 Fleet Assignment and Crew Pairing Problems: Existing M- els and Algorithms 388 3 An Integrated Approximate Fleet Assignment and Crew Pa- ing Model 393 4 An Advanced Integrated Solution Approach 395 5 Case Study 396 6 Conclusions and Future Research Directions 399 REFERENCES 401 14 AIRLINE SCHEDULE PERTURBATION PROBLEM: LANDING AND TAKEOFF WITH

260 2 Crew Legalities and Crew Pairing Repair 264 3 Model and Mathematical Formulation 266 4 Solution Methodology 271 5 Computational Experiences 277 6 Conclusion 285 REFERENCES 286 10 THE USE OF OPTIMIZATION TO PERFORM AIR TRAFFIC FLOW MANAGEMENT Kenneth Lindsay, E. Andrew Boyd, George Booth, and Charles Harvey 287 1 Introduction 288 2 The Traffic Flow Management (TFM) Problem 289 3 Recent TFM Optimization Models 292 4 The Time Assignment Model (TAM) 302 5 Summary and Conclusions 307 REFERENCES 309 11 THE PROCESSES OF AIRLINE SYSTEM OPERATIONS CONTROL Seth C. Grandeau, Michael D. Clarke, and Dennis F.X. Mathaisel 312 1 Introduction 313 2 The Four Phases of Airline Schedule Development 315 The Airline Operations Control Center (OCC) 3 320 4 Analysis of Operational Problems 331 5 Areas For Improvement 352 6 Case Study: PT Garuda Indonesia Airlines 357 REFERENCES 368 12 THE COMPLEX CONFIGURATION MODEL Bruce W. Patty and Jim Diamond 370 1 Introduction 370 Problem Description 2 371 Problem Formulation 3 375 4 Model Implementation 379 ix Contents 383 5 Summary REFERENCES 383 13 INTEGRATED AIRLINE SCHEDULE PLANNING Cynthia Barnhart, Fang Lu, and Rajesh Shenoi 384 1 Introduction 385 2 Fleet Assignment and Crew Pairing Problems: Existing M- els and Algorithms 388 3 An Integrated Approximate Fleet Assignment and Crew Pa- ing Model 393 4 An Advanced Integrated Solution Approach 395 5 Case Study 396 6 Conclusions and Future Research Directions 399 REFERENCES 401 14 AIRLINE SCHEDULE PERTURBATION PROBLEM: LANDING AND TAKEOFF WITH

This book reviews operations research theory, applications and practice in airline planning and operations. It examines the business and technical landscape, details best practices, and identifies open questions and areas for future research.

Operations research techniques are extremely important tools for planning airline operations. However, much of the technical literature on airline optimization models is highly specialized and accessible only to a limited audience. Allied to this there is a concern among the operations research community that the materials offered in OR courses at MBA or senior undergraduate business level are too abstract, outdated, and at times irrelevant to today's fast and dynamic airline industry. This book demystifies the operations and scheduling environment, presenting simplified and easy-to-understand models, applied to straightforward and practical examples. After introducing the key issues confronting operations and scheduling within airlines, Airline Operations and Scheduling goes on to provide an objective review of the various optimization models adopted in practice. Each model provides airlines with efficient solutions to a range of scenarios, and is accompanied by case studies similar to those experienced by commercial airlines. Using unique source material and combining interviews with alumni working at operations and scheduling departments of various airlines, this solution-orientated approach has been used on many courses with outstanding feedback. As well as having been comprehensively updated, this second edition of Airline Operations and Scheduling adds new chapters on fuel management systems, baggage handling, aircraft maintenance planning and aircraft boarding strategies. The readership includes graduate and undergraduate business, management, transportation, and engineering students; airlines training and acquainting new recruits with operations planning and scheduling processes; general aviation, flight school, International Air Transport Association (IATA), and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) training course instructors; executive jet, chartered flight, air-cargo and package delivery companies, and airline consultants.

This book reviews Operations Research theory, applications and practice in seven major areas of airline planning and operations. In each area, a team of academic and industry experts provides an overview of the business and technical landscape, a view of current best practices, a summary of open research questions and suggestions for relevant future research. There are several common themes in current airline Operations Research efforts. First is a growing focus on the customer in terms of: 1) what they want; 2) what they are willing to pay for services; and 3) how they are impacted by planning, marketing and operational decisions. Second, as algorithms improve and computing power increases, the scope of modeling applications expands, often re-integrating processes that had been broken into smaller parts in order to solve them in the past. Finally, there is a growing awareness of the uncertainty in many airline planning and operational processes and decisions. Airlines now recognize the need to develop ‘robust’ solutions that effectively cover many possible outcomes, not just the best case, “blue sky” scenario. Individual chapters cover: Customer Modeling methodologies, including current and emerging applications. Airline Planning and Schedule Development, with a look at many remaining open research questions. Revenue Management, including a view of current business and technical landscapes, as well as suggested areas for future research. Airline Distribution -- a comprehensive overview of this newly emerging area. Crew Management Information Systems, including a review of recent algorithmic advances, as well as the development of information systems that facilitate the integration of crew management modeling with airline planning and operations. Airline Operations, with consideration of recent advances and successes in solving the airline operations problem. Air Traffic Flow Management, including the modeling environment and opportunities for both Air Traffic Flow Management and the airlines.

Written by a range of international industry practitioners, this book offers a comprehensive overview of the essence and nature of airline operations in terms of an operational and regulatory framework, the myriad of planning activities leading up to the current day, and the nature of intense activity that typifies both normal and disrupted airline operations. The first part outlines the importance of the regulatory framework underpinning airline operations, exploring how airlines structure themselves in terms of network and business model. The second part draws attention to the operational environment, explaining the framework of the air traffic system and processes instigated by operational departments within airlines. The third part presents a comprehensive breakdown of the activities that occur on the actual operating day. The fourth part provides an eye-opener into events that typically go wrong on the operating day and then the means by which airlines try to mitigate these problems. Finally, a glimpse is provided of future systems, processes, and technologies likely to be significant in airline operations. Airline Operations: A Practical Guide offers valuable knowledge to industry and academia alike by providing readers with a well-informed and interesting dialogue on critical functions that occur every day within airlines.