Network-centric benchmarking of operational performance in aviation. (May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gopalakrishnan, Karthik; Li, Max Z.; Balakrishnan, Hamsa
• Is Part Of: Transportation research. Volume 126(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-05
• Subjects: Airline benchmarking -- Ground delay programs -- Delay and cancellation networks -- Network performance -- Regional and mainline carriers -- Outlier analysis; Transportation -- Periodicals; Transportation -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; 388.011
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trc.2021.103041
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0968-090X

Abstract

Highlights: Stakeholder-specific performance analysis is challenging in large-scale systems. Performance baselines derived from clustering using network-theoretic measures. Daily delay and cancellation analysis for airlines and air traffic controllers. Post-hoc evaluation of airline operations during disruptions. Abstract: Performance analysis of the air traffic operations is challenging because of the need to account for weather impacts and network effects. In this paper, we propose a framework that uses network clustering to identify baselines for benchmarking airline on-time performance. We demonstrate our framework by computing cancellation and departure delay baselines using US flight data for the years 2014–16. Subsequently, we use these baselines to benchmark daily on-time performance at the system-wide, airline-, and airport-specific levels, for both mainline and regional carriers. This framework enables an airline to conduct self- and peer-comparisons, evaluate improvements over time, and diagnose causes of poor on-time performance. Furthermore, our framework can be used by system operators to identify long-term trends in traffic management initiatives.