task 5

Task 5 will propose and evaluate adjustments of existing slot allocation processes to enhance scheduling and operating performance, using the slot allocation model developed in Task 1, and taking into account the results of the qualitative study carried out in Task 4. Specifically, it will address two sets of strategic questions: (1) the design of the IATA slot allocation guidelines (i.e., which slots are allocated to which flights and/or to which airlines), and (2) the setting of declared capacities at coordinated airports (i.e., how many slots should be allocated per unit of time). The former aims to minimize the impacts of capacity restrictions, while the latter aims to optimize the trade-off between the costs of slot allocation and the costs of airport congestion. We will evaluate the strategies by taking into account their joint effects on airline schedules of flights and airport operations.

Concerning the first question, we will test the sensitivity of the slot allocation outcomes to various rules included in the IATA guidelines. First, the requirements of historic slots (e.g., utilization of 80% of their slots in the previous season), the percentage of slots reserved to new entrants, and the minimum number of slots to be considered as a series of slots will be modified. Second, we will include additional flexibility by relaxing some primary criteria of the IATA guidelines, for instance by allowing historic slots to be displaced by up to 5, 10 or 15 minutes. Third, additional criteria will also be evaluated to balance different types of services (scheduled, charter and cargo), aircraft size (narrow-body vs. wide-body), and markets (domestic, regional and long haul), and to foster route development. Ultimately, these tests will inform guideline adjustments that can lead to better global slot allocation outcomes, and ultimately reduce the barrier to entry and new flight opportunities.

Regarding the second question, we aim to develop a systematic decision-making tool to support airport authorities in setting declared capacities. First, we will analyze the model sensitivity to declared capacities to quantify the impact of small increments in the value of declared capacity on the resulting schedule displacement. Second, the airport service level will be evaluated with queuing models of congestion, which will quantify the expected flight delays under various flight schedules obtained with different values of declared capacity (Pyrgiotis et. al. 2013; Jacquillat and Odoni, 2015). Third, we will use these insights to optimize the setting declared capacities at coordinated airports. Finally, we will quantify the potential performance improvements that can result from more flexible settings of declared capacities with respect to airline demand, such as higher capacity values at the busiest times of the day, or higher capacity values on the busiest days of the year.