Bringing flight costs down

25 January 2006

A new project led by a Monash University researcher could lead to significant reductions in the cost of running airlines and make better use of valuable fuel resources.

Monash University researcher Professor Mark Wallace is working with Dr Natashia Boland, from the University of Melbourne, and Constraint Technologies International to develop novel constraint solving and optimization algorithms to improve airline schedules.

The two-year project is being funded through an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant and will target savings in the airline industry by factoring in departures and destinations, size of fleets, crew allocation, gate allocation and plane maintenance requirements in a single algorithm.

Currently these aspects are considered individually, however Professor Wallace and his team are looking to devise an algorithm that can factor in all these aspects and identify the most appropriate schedule overall.

If successful, the project could result in more efficient use of fuel, better staff resourcing, and more effective use of aircraft; bringing down the costs to the airline industry which could in turn be passed on to the consumer.

Professor Wallace said the project could improve the cost and quality of aircraft services for Australian transportation, manufacturing and other associated industries.

"A good schedule meets customer demand, but also exploits the resources of the airline efficiently, keeping down aircraft costs, personnel costs and fuel costs," he said.

"However because airline scheduling is a large and complex problem, current techniques do not make the most of resources."

"This project could lead to major savings in the airline industry, providing ongoing benefits for the tourism industry."

Professor Wallace said the project could also provide significant environmental benefits by reducing the amount of fuel used in air travel.