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The construction of timetables for an airline is composed of aircraft and crew. Crew cost is the biggest controllable expenditure for an airline and effective crew assignment is a very important aspect of planning (Gopalakrishnan & Johnson, 2005). Wensveen (2016) defines: “airline scheduling as the art of designing systemwide flight patterns that provide optimum public service, in both quantity and quality, consistent with the financial health of the carrier” (p. 388). An airline’s decision to offer certain flights is dependent on market demand forecasts, available aircraft operating characteristics, available workforce, regulations, and the behavior of competing airlines (Bazargan, 2010, p. 31).

The problem is that the airline scheduling process in its entirety is very complex. Flight scheduling is the starting point for all other airline planning and operations (Bazargan, 2010, p. 31). Airlines are faced with a number of issues that they have no control over (e.g., illness, weather, volcanoes, earthquakes, etc.). Adding to the complexity are human factors, cultural issues, political issues, and more. Vast numbers of rules and regulations associated with airports, aircraft, and flight crews combined with the global expanse of air traffic networks have a direct impact on the scheduling process.

When a problem arises that has an impact on the schedule, that impact can ripple throughout the airline’s network (Hamilton & Nilsson, 2010a). In some cases, a delay at a hub airport can affect travelers around the globe. In 2006, the North American airline industry experienced a total of 116.5 million minutes of delay, totaling a $7.7 billion increase in operating costs. Passengers are typically unsympathetic to delays; as far as they are concerned, it is the airline’s fault. With advancements in internet ticketing, travelers readily avoid an airline with poor on-time performance.

One alternative action is for airline and railway modes of transportation to form an intermodal alliance (Iatrou & Oretti, 2007, p. 88). This would enable travelers to continue with their travel plans. An advantage of this approach is that access to airports through dedicated public transport could reduce problems associated with road traffic delays around airports. Iatrou and Oretti (2007) suggest an intermodal alliance near airports for quicker access to and from the airport (p. 89). However, a disadvantage is the absence of interconnectivity, where air and rail industries have different infrastructures without common rules and facilities (Iatrou & Oretti, 2007, p. 89). Additionally, high-speed rail links to airports are not profitable in the short term.

A second alternative action is to extend flight schedules by extra minutes to boost on-time performance (McCartney, 2012). The advantages of this solution include passengers spending less time on aircraft (McCartney, 2012) and airlines having fewer planes sitting at terminal gates awaiting connecting passengers. However, the disadvantages include the potential for an aircraft departing late for a flight to run late for the rest of its flight pattern for the day, and delays can grow exponentially (McCartney, 2012). A flight that is off the gate late may find a long line of planes waiting to take off or may find that the gate is no longer available at its destination, resulting in an extended wait period (McCartney, 2012).

The recommendation for addressing the complexity of airline scheduling involves sequential airline schedule planning, where aircraft routing and flight crew-pairing decisions are made simultaneously to minimize flight crew and aircraft operating costs (Hamilton & Nilsson, 2010b). The advantage of this approach is quicker turnaround time, which increases aircraft utilization. Conversely, the disadvantage may involve flight crews and passengers having less time to connect between their flight legs (Wensveen, 2016).

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The airline industry is a crucial component of the global transportation network, enabling rapid movement of goods and passengers across vast distances. However, this indispensable service suffers from significant operational complexities, particularly in regard to creating flight schedules. Effective airline scheduling is essential to maintaining a competitive edge, while simultaneously ensuring customer satisfaction and safety. The challenge faced by airlines is multifaceted, comprising factors that range from market demands to operational constraints, providing an ideal opportunity for thorough examination and analysis.

To understand the central problem within this context, it is important to recognize that airline scheduling hinges on a multitude of variables, including weather patterns, crew availability, regulatory frameworks, and air traffic demands. These factors often overlap, leading to challenges in maintaining punctuality and operational efficiency. Consequently, a single delay in flight schedules can have a cascading effect throughout the network, undermining profitability and customer loyalty.

An instance of this complexity can be traced back to the North American airline industry's experience in 2006, which recorded a staggering 116.5 million minutes of delay. The resulting operational costs incurred totaled approximately $7.7 billion (Hamilton & Nilsson, 2010a). Such numbers illustrate the essential need for airlines to devise efficient scheduling strategies that can mitigate disruptions and maintain service levels. The significance of this issue is underscored by the fact that today’s travelers have increasingly high expectations regarding punctuality. A major disruption can immediately erode consumer trust, causing passengers to gravitate towards competitors with better on-time performance.

Given the implications of scheduling problems, two alternative actions stand out as viable approaches to improving the overall effectiveness of airline scheduling. The first alternative would entail the formation of intermodal alliances between airlines and railways (Iatrou & Oretti, 2007). This strategy, while requiring both industries to harmonize underlying systems and protocols, could provide a seamless transition for travelers needing to connect from airplanes to trains. An advantage of this strategy lies in the potential to alleviate congestion around airports and broaden the passenger base through effective collaboration. Conversely, the disadvantages may include the high initial costs and long-term uncertainty regarding profitability, as well as the challenge of achieving synergy between different transport modalities.

The second alternative involves extending flight schedules by several minutes, thus providing buffers to accommodate unforeseen delays (McCartney, 2012). This method enables airlines to improve on-time performance, thus enhancing customer satisfaction and trust. However, it is important to note that while such an extension might alleviate certain immediate scheduling issues, it might also exacerbate delays if an aircraft departs late, creating a ripple effect throughout the operation. Therefore, while this solution appears straightforward, it risks complicating overall scheduling dynamics further (McCartney, 2012).

Upon careful consideration of the alternatives presented, the recommendation leans towards adopting a systematic approach to sequential airline scheduling that integrates aircraft routing and flight crew-pairing decisions. This would streamline existing processes, allowing for simultaneous consideration of multiple factors such as crew availability, aircraft maintenance, and operational regulations (Hamilton & Nilsson, 2010b). The implementation of this strategy could considerably enhance operational efficiency, effectively reducing turnaround times and boosting aircraft utilization rates.

However, the feasibility of this recommendation must also take into account the need for enhanced training and the additional burden placed on crew members and passengers, which could become a downside to the strategy. Effectively realizing the benefits of such an approach will necessitate a significant commitment of resources to ensure crew readiness and improve connectivity between flights (Wensveen, 2016).

In conclusion, the complex nature of airline scheduling presents a significant operational challenge within the aviation sector. Identifying the problem, understanding its implications, and developing actionable alternatives is vital in ensuring that airlines can successfully navigate these challenges. Ultimately, the recommendation for a systematic, integrated approach to airline scheduling could serve as a key enabler for airlines seeking to enhance their operational effectiveness while simultaneously adhering to the evolving demands of the market.

References

  • Bazargan, M. (2010). Flight scheduling. In Airline operations and scheduling (2nd ed., pp. 31-40). Burlington, VT: Ashgate.

  • Gopalakrishnan, B., & Johnson, E. L. (2005). Airline crew scheduling: State-of-the-art. Annals of Operations Research, 140(1), 327-343. doi:10.1007/s10479-005-0104-1.

  • Hamilton, J. S., & Nilsson, S. (2020a). Practical aviation & aerospace law (7th ed.). Newcastle, WA: Aviation Supplies & Academics.

  • Hamilton, J. S., & Nilsson, S. (2020b). Practical aviation & aerospace law: Workbook (7th ed.). Newcastle, WA: Aviation Supplies & Academics.

  • Iatrou, K., & Oretti, M. (2007). Once rivals, now partners; how? In Airline choices for the future: From alliances to mergers (pp. 59-90). Burlington, VT: Ashgate.

  • McCartney, S. (2012, June 14). The middle seat: Reality check: Why airlines are shrinking flight times. Wall Street Journal.

  • Wensveen, J. G. (2016). Principles of airline scheduling. In Air transportation: A management perspective (8th ed., pp. 387-392). Burlington, VT: Ashgate.

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