Airline Network Planning and Scheduling

Preface

The task of network planning and scheduling is critical for the success of commercial airlines. It involves answering important questions on where to fly, when, and at what capacity. It is responsible for developing an operational flight schedule and determining resources required to operate this schedule. The network planning and scheduling task plays a significant role in determining the airline’s brand, profitability, and operational performance. Regardless of the airline’s size, the problem of network planning and scheduling is complex, which requires adopting high‐level solution methodologies. The problem entails optimizing several interrelated decisions, handling conflicting objectives (profitability and operations performance), and responding timely to external factors such as change in economy, competition, and special events.

The book Airline Network Planning and Scheduling is a comprehensive textbook for students who seek career in the airline industry and in particular in airline network planning and scheduling. The book is primarily targeting graduate‐level students. However, many chapters are also suitable to be taught at the undergraduate level. The book is targeting students who study degrees in business administration, operations management, transportation planning, operations research, management science, and logistics and is intended to be self‐contained. Readers with basic background in spreadsheets, modeling, and mathematical programming will be ...