Non-linear integer programming fleet assignment model
Date
2016
Authors
Phokomela, Prince Lerato
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Abstract
Given a flight schedule with fixed departure times and cost, solving the fleet
assignment problem assists airlines to find the minimum cost or maximum
revenue assignment of aircraft types to flights. The result is that each flight is
covered exactly once by an aircraft and the assignment can be flown using the
available number of aircraft of each fleet type.
This research proposes a novel, non-linear integer programming fleet assignment
model which differs from the linear time-space multi-commodity network
fleet assignment model which is commonly used in industry. The performance
of the proposed model with respect to the amount of time it takes to create a
flight schedule is measured. Similarly, the performance of the time-space multicommodity
fleet assignment model is also measured. The objective function
from both mathematical models is then compared and results reported.
Due to the non-linearity of the proposed model, a genetic algorithm (GA)
is used to find a solution. The time taken by the GA is slow. The objective
function value, however, is the same as that obtained using the time-space
multi-commodity network flow model.
The proposed mathematical model has advantages in that the solution is
easier to interpret. It also simultaneously solves fleet assignment as well as
individual aircraft routing. The result may therefore aid in integrating more
airline planning decisions such as maintenance routing.
Description
A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and
the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand,
Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the
degree of Master of Science in Engineering.
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2016
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Citation
Phokomela, Prince Lerato (2016) Non-linear integer programming fleet assignment model, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, <http://hdl.handle.net/10539/22330>