Airline Optimization

Gang Yu and Benjamin G. Thengvall

ABSTRACT

The airline industry provides an application-rich environment for the field of operations research. This article will introduce many problems faced by the airline industry that have been modeled and solved using operations research techniques. Along with a general description of each problem, the models and algorithms that have been applied to solve them are provided. The models developed and solution approaches utilized to solve these airline problems vary widely, from complex mathematical programming techniques to simple heuristic approaches. The problems addressed include network design and schedule construction, fleet assignment, aircraft routing, crew pairing, crew rostering, revenue management, irregular operations, air traffic control and collaborative decisionmaking, and ground delay programs.