Dynamic scheduling in airline operations

Abstract

Introduction: Although air transportation has been characterized by rapid development in vehicle design and performance, methods of airline management in the area of vehicle scheduling and control have advanced at a much slower pace. Because of high costs of operation and the pressures of current competition and government controls, effective and efficient use of aircraft is becoming an increasingly essential objective. The goal is to achieve an optimal balance between net revenue to the airline and improved level of service to the customer. Improved return implies higher load factors and air - craft utilization whereas improved passenger service necessitates reduced waits and increased frequencies. These are often conflicting aims. New techniques must be mobilized to give management more useful and adaptive methods of operating and controlling an air transportation system. Perhaps the particular requirements -1- of a very short-haul high density transportation system will lead to more demand responsive approaches. It is with this motivation that this study of dynamic dispatching strategy is undertaken.