Research On Optimization Of Airline Network In Alliance

Since the 1980 s, with the rapid development of technology, the world economy tends to globalization. As a result, the way of corporation between airlines is gradually turned to be global airline alliance. How to design optimal airline network, to meet the operation requirement of the airline itself and facilitate cooperation with partners in high efficiency, and how to improve product competitiveness, are urgent problems of airlines in alliance.The actual needs and characteristics of airlines in designing airline network in alliance are firstly analyzed. Based on research of classical UMpHMP model, an optimization model of airline network in alliance is proposed, with the minimization of total airline transportation costs as the objective. A domestic airline is analyzed as a case study by using the proposed model, obtaining the best hub location and O-D routes. The influence of hub amounts and cost allocation rate on network is also analyzed. The results verify effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed model. The model can provide efficient reference for airlines in alliance cooperation, as it fully considers the actual situation,including that hub of partners cannot be changed, and the demand of international O-D routes have asymmetry characteristics, etc.Referred to the experience of the Delta Airlines in establishing QSI model, and the characteristics of domestic air transportation, a QSI model considering 7 indices is proposed including flight frequency, aircraft type, deviation rate in time, times of connection, cooperation relationship between airlines in alliance, competition degree in the market and the market share of carrier. The proposed model can quantify the relationship between flight quality and market share. Based on this,optimization model of aircraft type aimed at corporation route is developed. The model sets maximum profit of target flight as the objective function, and the demand and capacity as constraints. Finally, an instance is tested by using the proposed model, providing a new idea for airlines on supply allocation of key synergetic air routes.