Abstract
Since the 1950s, the operations research community has developed a large number of computer models to aid in the solution of airline scheduling problems. One notable characteristic of these contributions is that each algorithm was developed with its own input and output structures, user interface, and hardware and software requirements. The result is that many of these contributions are under-utilized because they are cumbersome to use, not integrated with the other airline's systems, and not connected across all functions of the airline (from planning to operations control). What was needed to make these contributions effective was a scheduling “environment” with a systematic interaction between the human, standardized databases across all functions of the airline, powerful desktop workstations for decision support, a standardized interactive graphical user interface for schedule editing, and the operations research techniques for optimization. This paper reports on the application of the integration of computer science and operations research in a decision support system for airline schedule planning. The application integrates a graphical user interface and the database with the schedule optimization algorithms.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
J. Abara, “Applying integer linear programming to the fleet assignment problem,” Interfaces J., vol. 19, no.4. 1989.
L. Bodin, B.L. Golden, A. Assad, and M. Ball, “Routing and scheduling of vehicles and crews: The state of the art,” Computers and Operations Research, vol. 10, 1983.
A.L. Elias, “The Development of An operational game for the U.S. domestic airline industry,” Ph.D. Thesis, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, MIT, February 1979.
M.M. Etschmaier and D.F.X. Mathaisel, “Aircraft Scheduling: The State of the Art,” AGIFORS 24, 1984.
T.A. Feo and J.F. Bard, “Flight scheduling and maintenance base planning,” Management Science, vol. 35, no.12, 1989.
S. Grandeau, “The Process of Airline Operation Control,” MS Thesis, Flight Transportation Laboratory, MIT, 1995.
G.W. Graves, R.D. McBride, I. Gershkoff, D. Anderson, and D. Mahidhara, “Flight crewscheduling,” Management Science, vol. 39, no.6, 1993.
C.A. Hane, C. Barnhart, E.L. Johnson, G.L. Nemhauser, and G. Sigismondi, “OSL solves the fleet assignment problem,” EKKNews, Fourth Quarter 1992.
K.L. Hoffman and M. Padberg, “Solving airline crew scheduling problems by branch-and-cut,” Management Science, vol. 39, no.6, 1993.
A.I.Z. Jarrah, G. Yu, N. Krishnamurthy, and A. Rakshit, “A decision support framework for airline flight cancellations and delays,” Transportation Science, vol. 27, no.3, August 1993.
J.G. Klincewicz and M.B. Rosenwein, “The Airline Exception Scheduling Problem,” working paper, AT &T Bell Laboratories, August 1993.
R.S. Mangoubi and D.F.X. Mathaisel, “Optimizing gate assignments at airport terminals,” Transportation Science, vol. 19, no 2, pp. 173–188, May 1985.
D.F.X. Mathaisel, “Decision support for airline system operations control and irregular operations,” Computers and Operations Research, vol. 23, no.11, pp. 1083–1098, 1966.
R.L. Phillips and D.W. Boyd, “Integrated Airline Fleet and Schedule Planning,” Decision Focus Inc. Paper 8085–12, 1992.
A. Rakshit, N. Krishnamurthy, and G. Yu, “System operations advisor: A real-time decision support system for managing airline operations at United Airlines,” Interfaces, vol. 26, no.2, pp. 50–58, March-April 1996.
R. Richardson, “An optimization approach to routing aircraft,” Transportation Science, vol. 10, 1976.
R.P. Scheff, Jr., J.D. Quillinan, D.S. Wiper, and R.E. Marsten, “Coldstart: Fleet Assignment at Delta Air Lines,” Interfaces, vol. 24, no.1, 1994.
R.W. Simpson, “Computerized Schedule Construction for An Airline Transportation System,” Flight Transportation Laboratory Report FTL R66–3, 1966.
W. Swan, “The Complete FA-4 Memo,” Flight Transportation Laboratory Memorandum, MIT, August 1972.
D. Teodorovic and G. Stojkovic, “Model for operational daily airline scheduling,” Transportation Planning Technology, vol. 14, pp. 273–285, 1990.
F. Torquati and R. Pobbiati, “Aircraft Routing,” Unpublished paper for the OMAR (Operative Management of Aircraft Routing) Project, Bull HN Information Systems, R & D Centre, Milan Italy, 1993.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mathaisel, D.F. Decision Support for Airline Schedule Planning. Journal of Combinatorial Optimization 1, 251–275 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009776309890
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009776309890