Airline Network Planning Considering Climate Impact: Assessing New Operational Improvements

The aviation industry has set an ambitious goal of reducing its climate impacts. Accordingly, airlines must balance their plans according to this with financial considerations. We developed a multi-objective framework facilitate climate-aware network design by incorporating the objective minimise flight average temperature response (ATR) when optimising airline network. also assessed operational improvements (OIs) which are introduced improve sustainability in operations. In particular, we considered intermediate stop-overs (ISOs) and lower altitudes as OIs our case studies. analysed impact considering planning operations three different types: one main-hub-and-spoke (KLM), smaller multi-hub (TAP), low-cost carrier (EasyJet). results show that could environmental 10–36% ATR objective. However, would require 8–20% reduction profits. Adopting lower-altitude flying ISO mitigate 27–49% while profits approximately 6%. Our study highlights importance whole demonstrates potential benefits from perspective.