Agenda

Airline scheduling process

Fleet Assignment problem
Time-Space network concept

Airline Schedule

 Single most important indicator of airlines business strategy.

Markets to be served
Level of service
There are many restrictions that makes the planning very
difficult:
Gates and slots
Operational restrictions
Airport Restrictions
Location of the crew and maintenance plans
Airline schedule is what that defines their level of service,
their market share, and their business strategy, because it is
the most important product of an airline and it is the core
service which all the other services are based on that.
The problem and decision making is a complicated process
because of numerous complicating factors such as :
Labor,
Operational restrictions
Aircraft restrictions
Aircraft requirements
Airport restrictions
Gate, slots,
Uncertainty in demand

Airlines Goals

 Airlines are operating in a competitive market.

The ultimate goal of airlines is maximizing the profit.
There can be some other goals that will lead to profit such
as:
Operational goals
Marketing goals
Strategic goals
Airlines are trying to find the best (in terms of profit)
schedules that are consistent with their other goals.
Airlines are private owned companies, and similar to all the
other private owned companies, the ultimate goal is
maximizing the profit,.
In order to maximize profit, airlines have different
marketing , operational and long term strategies which can
be considered as goals. Because they will generate profit.

Airlines and Decision making

Decision making process in airline industry is a very
complicated process due to:
Numerous airport location with different restrictions
Different aircraft types with different operational
characteristics
Crew scheduling and regulations
Large number of O/D routes and markets
Decision making for Airlines in United States is very difficult.
Competitive market
Enormous Air transportation network.

Airports

Hubs

Flight legs

Markets

Rules and regulations

Crew

Aircraft operations