Improving Airline Network Robustness and Operational Reliability by Sequential Optimisation Algorithms

A sequential optimisation algorithm is developed to improve the operational reliability of airline schedules. Simulation results show that departure delays are reduced by 30% after optimisation by using extra 260 min buffer times in the schedule. This also increases the network-wide schedule reliability from 37 to 52% and an estimated delay cost saving of $20 million dollars per annum for a small airline network. The advantage of sequential optimisation is that it considers the delay/punctuality propagation in airline networks, so to prevent airlines from planning excessive buffer times to individual flights by considering aircraft rotation as a whole process.