Flight collaborative planning method for metropolitan multi-airport systems based on passenger travel demand

LIU Zhishuo; LIN Simeng; LI Yanhua

doi:10.11860/j.issn.1673-0291.20240008

Abstract：To promote the coordinated development of metropolitan multi-airport systems and enhance passenger travel experiences,this study investigates the problem of flight coordinative planning based on passenger travel demand.First,considering factors including the geographical distribution of pas-sengers,their preferred travel time,and airport capacity at different periods,an optimization model is developed to determine flight routes and frequencies across the airport system.The objective is to mini-mize passengers'ground transportation costs,the deviation from their preferred departure time,and airfare differences.Second,a mathematical programming model is developed,and a variable neighbor-hood search algorithm incorporating nine problem-specific neighborhood structures is designed.Fi-nally,the proposed method is validated using flight planning cases involving Beijing's dual-airport system(PEK and PKX)and routes connecting Chongqing Jiangbei,Yuncheng Yanhu,and Foshan Shadi airports.Results indicate that when average ticket prices are identical at both Beijing airports,PKX is allocated significantly fewer flights than PEK.However,when PKX's average ticket price is reduced by 6%compared to PEK,the arrival and departure flight volumes between the two air-ports become balanced.Under the fare consistency strategy,71%of departing passengers and 62%of arriving passengers can choose their preferred airport,while 58.77%of passengers experience travel time deviations within two hours.Although the 6%fare reduction strategy slightly lowers the satisfaction rate of passenger preferences,it attracts more travelers to non-preferred time slots and airports,further balancing passenger flow and flight density.This approach aligns with the dual-hub positioning of Beijing's two major international airports and contributes to the efficient operation of the overall aviation network.