Runway Operations Scheduling using Airline Preferences

The purpose of the research discussed in this thesis was to assess the effects of considering airline preferences in runway operations scheduling. This was motivated by the congestion and delays that regularly occur in the air traffic system. Delays cause both cost and inconvenience to airlines and their passengers. Airborne delays increase fuel cost. Delays can cause infeasibility to crew and aircraft assignments for subsequent flights. In this way, delays are propagated. This results in additional cost, such as crew overtime payments. Delays can cause passengers to miss connecting flights and these passengers have to be rebooked. This also brings additional cost. However, the impact of a delay will differ from flight to flight, depending, among others, on the number of (transfer) passengers. An airline will often prefer a delay for a flight without any transfer passengers over a delay for a flight full of time-critical transfer passengers. It is expected that by considering these preferences in air traffic control decisions, the impact of delay on the airlines and their passengers can be reduced. This will lead to cost savings for airlines and fewer frustrations for passengers.