Introduction to Aeronautical Science
Sample Case Analysis
Robust Airline Schedule Planning
I. Summary
The construction of timetables for an airline is composed of aircraft and crew (Dunbar, Froyland, and Wu, 2012). Crew cost is the biggest controllable expenditure for an airline, and effective crew assignment is a very important aspect of planning (Gopalakrishnan and Johnson, 2005). Wensveen (2011) defines “airline scheduling as the art of designing system wide flight patterns that provide optimum public service, in both quantity and quality, consistent with the financial health of the carrier” (p. 360). An airline’s decision to offer certain flights is dependent on market demand forecasts, available aircraft operating characteristics, available work force, regulations, and the behaviour of competing airlines (Bazargan, 2010, p.31).
II. Problem
The problem is that the airline scheduling process in its entirety is very complex (Dunbar, et al., 2012). Flight scheduling is the starting point for all other airline planning and operations (Bazargan, 2010, p.31).
III. Significance of the Problem
The significance of the problem is that a vast number of rules and regulations associated with airports, aircraft, and flight crews combined with the global expanse of air traffic networks, require airline scheduling to be broken into manageable, traceable pieces (Dunbar, et al., 2012). In 2006, the North American airline industry experienced a total of 116.5 million minutes of delay, totalling a $7.7 billion increase in operating costs (Dunbar, et al., 2012).
IV. Development of Alternative Actions
Alternative Action 1. Airline and railway mode of transportation industries to form an intermodal alliance (Iatrou and Oretti, 2007, p.88). Advantages. Access to airports through dedicated public transport could reduce problems associated with road traffic and air quality around airports (Iatrou & Oretti, 2007, pp. 88-89). Iatrou & Oretti (2007) suggest
References: Bazargan, M. (2010). Airline operations and scheduling (2nd ed.). Burlington, VT: Ashgate Publishing Company Dunbar, M., Froyland, G., & Wu, C. (2012). Robust airline schedule planning: Minimizing propagated delay in an integrated routing and crewing framework. Transportation Science, 46(2), 204-216. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.libproxy.db. erau.edu/docview/1018549987?accountid=27203 Gopalakrishnan, B., & Johnson, E. L. (2005). Airline crew scheduling: State-of-the-art. Annals of Operations Research, 140(1), 305-305. doi: 10.1007/s10479-005-3975-3 Iatrou, K., & Oretti, M. (2007). Airline choices for the future: From alliances to mergers. Burlington, VT: Ashgate Publishing Company. McCartney, S. (2012, Jun 14). The middle seat: Reality check: Why airlines are shrinking flight times. Wall Street Journal, pp. 1-D.1. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy. libproxy.db.erau.edu/docview/1020180498?accountid=27203 Wensveen, J. G. (2011). Air transportation: A management perspective (7th ed.). Burlington, VT: Ashgate Publishing Company.