Search Results (71)

An airport slot is the core resource in the air transportation system. In most busy airports in China, airline demand significantly exceeds the available slot capacity. Scientific and reasonable slot allocation techniques and methods can improve the operational efficiency and benefits of multi-airport systems. Existing research has predominantly addressed slot allocation optimization for individual airports; however, there are differences in the functional positioning and resource allocation during multi-airport slot optimization, which makes cooperative optimization in the context of multi-airport slot allocation difficult. The dynamic sharing of airspace capacity in multi-airport systems is crucial for optimizing airport slot allocation and improving resource utilization efficiency. This study develops a multi-objective optimization model incorporating coupled airspace capacity relationships within multi-airport systems and the fairness of airlines and airports in order to realize the optimal utilization of multi-airport system resources, considering specialized 24 h airport slot coordination parameter patterns and slot firebreaks in China. Finally, the validity and scalability of the model are verified using real flight data from three airports in the Beijing airport terminal area, and simulations are conducted to verify the model. The findings provide a solid reference for the optimization of airport slot timetables in multi-airport systems, having both important theoretical value and practical significance. Full article

Partially linear time series models often suffer from multicollinearity among regressors and autocorrelated errors, both of which can inflate estimation risk. This study introduces a generalized ridge-type kernel (GRTK) framework that combines kernel smoothing with ridge shrinkage and augments it through ordinary and positive-part Stein adjustments. Closed-form expressions and large-sample properties are established, and data-driven criteria—including GCV, AICc, BIC, and RECP—are used to tune the bandwidth and shrinkage penalties. Monte-Carlo simulations indicate that the proposed procedures usually reduce risk relative to existing semiparametric alternatives, particularly when the predictors are strongly correlated and the error process is dependent. An empirical study of US airline-delay data further demonstrates that GRTK produces a stable, interpretable fit, captures a nonlinear air-time effect overlooked by conventional approaches, and leaves only a modest residual autocorrelation. By tackling multicollinearity and autocorrelation within a single, flexible estimator, the GRTK family offers practitioners a practical avenue for more reliable inference in partially linear time series settings. Full article

This study employs a critical perspective: aiming to provide a subjective and socially constructed view on the impact of corporate governance and the corporate social responsibility (CSR) choices on the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) in terms of CO₂ emissions in Brazil. This research paper bridges the gap in the literature on the EKC by toeing a qualitative approach to what has been presented using quantitative methods, and offers insights on how the trends shape organisational policies. Furthermore, it enumerates the relationship between CSR, CO₂ choices, and EKC in the Brazilian aviation industry using one particular airline as a case study. It aims to provoke further conversation on decarbonisation. It seeks to show how EKC has been treated and to contextualise the impact of the airline sector’s CSR and corporate governance on EKC. A combination of a content analysis of the narratives of sustainability reports and a semi-structured interview with a sustainability expert from the aviation sector was used in data gathering, while critical discourse analysis (CDA) was employed in demonstrating the ideological and social contexts that shape organisational narratives and decisions in practices and governance structures that are driving CO₂ reduction strategies. The findings not only confirmed the crucial role that corporate governance plays in the implementation and monitoring of CSR practices within the sector but also shows the impact of integrating sustainability goals into corporate strategies. The policies nurtured by CSR are supported by the company’s ESG and Social Responsibility Committees. In the context of the case study, the corporate decision to transit to biofuels is contributing not only to the reduction in CO₂ emissions but is also seen as an economically viable strategy with public policies and regulatory frameworks. This paper further explains the impact of geopolitical factors and the need for international cooperation because the traditional U-shaped EKC is not supported in the context of the Brazilian aviation sector. Finally, this spurs the need for collaboration among various stakeholder companies, policymakers, and nations in the global context for sustainable development to have a lasting impact. Full article

Hybrid propulsion systems have become a focal point of low-carbon aviation research due to their advantages in energy savings, emissions reduction, and noise abatement. This study develops an integrated design methodology for hybrid propulsion systems for aircraft, incorporating multidisciplinary algorithms to establish an overall performance model. Building on this model, a comprehensive aircraft design platform was constructed, and its simulation capabilities were validated. Focusing on the mission requirements of a 180-seat narrow-body airliner, this study analyzed and compared the characteristics of three hybrid propulsion architectures, optimized their design schemes, and evaluated the key technologies for each architecture. A sensitivity analysis was conducted for critical technologies within the turboelectric architecture. The results indicate that, based on current data and future projections, a turboelectric system featuring batteries with a specific energy of 500 Wh/kg and installed motor power of 3 MW demonstrates superior performance, reduced fuel consumption, and no additional energy storage burden, making it the preferred propulsion solution. Furthermore, enhancing the utilization of aft-mounted fans and increasing the power blending coefficient can improve system performance. However, the maximum power blending coefficient is constrained to 27.25% by the specific motor power capacity. Full article

Delays are a global issue affecting both airports and airlines. Departure delays are particularly likely to propagate across airports, rendering the entire flight network susceptible to increased delay durations. The delay network and its duration fluctuate daily or even hourly across airports. This study investigates the association between departure delay duration and delay network properties. Using various network metrics, we apply a fixed-effect Prais–Winsten regression model within a panel data framework covering the period from 2018 to 2021 for two full-service carriers in Japan. The key findings reveal that higher in-degree centrality is associated with longer departure delays. Betweenness centrality suggests that, in addition to hub airports, some spoke airports may function as delay bridges, thereby increasing delay durations. Eigenvector centrality is linked to shorter but more frequent departure delays across the network, which are more likely to result in frequent delay propagations of shorter durations. The results indicate that some airports may form delay clusters among themselves, potentially extending departure delay durations among connected airports. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the state of emergency contributed to varying associations between network properties and departure delay durations. These outcomes are expected to provide valuable insights for airline delay and schedule management policymakers. Full article

Small airlines face significant challenges in maintaining operational efficiency and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards due to limited resources, fragmented technical support ecosystems, and high operational costs. Aviation Technical Support as a Service (ATSaaS) offers an innovative, scalable framework to address these issues by providing centralized or decentralized platforms for technical support. This study examines the advantages, disadvantages, and life cycle costs of centralized and decentralized data conversion architectures within the ATSaaS model. Using mathematical models and a numerical example, the research highlights the trade-offs between initial investments and long-term operational costs, with centralized systems benefiting from economies of scale and decentralized systems offering flexibility. This study also identifies limitations and future research directions. Full article

This study addresses the challenge of evaluating circularity within the procurement-to-waste system boundaries, using the example of single-use in-flight drinking cups provided by SWISS International Air Lines Ltd., the national airline of Switzerland. A comprehensive review of the academic literature, market-based tools, and political regulations highlights the absence of adequate methodologies for assessing circularity within these specific system boundaries. Existing approaches, primarily designed at the product level, are often either excessively complex or focused solely on waste management. To address this gap, the research proposes an extension to the Circular Material Use rate (CMU), currently implemented at the European Union level. The traditional CMU rate does not account for circular inflow, thereby neglecting procurement decisions. In response, this study introduces an extended version of the CMU, expressed as CMU Extended = (Circular Inflow + Circular Outflow)/(2 × Total Material). This modification enables a more holistic evaluation of circularity by incorporating both inflows and outflows of materials in relation to total material use. Empirical testing demonstrated the applicability of this extended CMU in the context of SWISS, allowing for an efficient assessment of circularity for single-use in-flight drinking cups. From these initial results, we hypothesize that this ratio is expected to be broadly applicable beyond the airline industry, providing a valuable tool for businesses seeking to measure circularity within similar system boundaries. Full article

Civil aviation safety is crucial to the airline transportation industry, and the effective prevention and analysis of accidents are essential. This paper delves into the mining of unstructured textual information within accident reports, tracing the evolution from manual rules to machine learning and then to advanced deep learning techniques. We particularly highlight the advantages of text extraction methods that leverage large language models. We propose an innovative approach that integrates TF-IDF keyword extraction with large language model prompted filtering to scrutinize the causes of accidents involving civil transport aircraft. By analyzing the keywords before and after filtering, this method significantly enhances the efficiency of information extraction, minimizes the need for manual annotation, and thus improves the overall effectiveness of accident prevention and analysis. This research is not only pivotal in preventing similar incidents in the future but also introduces new perspectives for conducting aviation accident investigations and promotes the sustainable development of the civil aviation industry. Full article

This paper addresses the problem of estimating passenger demand for flights, with a particular focus on the necessity of developing precise forecasts that incorporate intricate and interdependent variables for effective resource planning within the air transport industry. The present paper focuses on the development of a model for medium-term flight demand estimation by flight destinations. This is based on the analysis of historical airline data on dates, departure times, and passenger demand, as well as the consideration of the influence of macroeconomic indicators, namely gross regional product (GRP), median per capita income, and population of departure and arrival points. This paper reviews international experience in the development of demand forecasting models and their use for resource planning in the industry. The developed model was evaluated using historical data on demand for a single turnaround flight operated by an airline. The developed model allows for the forecasting of the distribution of potential demand for airline flight destinations in the medium term, utilizing comprehensive historical data on departure times and flight demand by destination. Full article

The processes of information exchange and the movement of material flows form a communication space that reflects the relationship of complex intersystem interactions in various spheres of our life within the framework of the concepts of information-theoretical theory. One of these concepts, reflecting the mutual influence between processes at a qualitative level, is the transfer of entropy. The direction and intensity of these flows reflect the main social and economic processes. As it is known, air transport is one of the most reliable and high-speed modes of transport, influencing the processes of socio-cultural interaction between different regions. This indirectly affects the development of industrial relations, the development of technology and intercultural exchange. New technologies in aviation improve the flight performance of airliners and reduce the costs of transporting passengers. The size and range of modern airliners are increasing, and ticket prices are being optimized. The processes of the liberalization of developing air transportation markets, the emergence of low-cost air carriers, open skies agreements, and the reduction in restrictions on the nomenclature of carriers and routes have led to the growth and diversity of air transport links. This article considers air transport as a complex system that takes into account the interconnectedness of the elements of the transportation system and the influence of some subsystems on others, which are not always obvious. The object of the study was the communication space formed on the basis of air transportation between regions of the world. To assess the dynamic properties of the world communication space, ICAO data for the period of 1970–2021 were used. The subject of the analysis was a time series reflecting the flows of passengers and cargo over the considered time horizon. The entropy transfer algorithm was used as an analysis tool. In the course of the research, the features of dynamic changes in the properties of the communication space were revealed. The analysis showed that the flows of entropy transfer between regions of the world change depending on political, economic, social, and technological factors. Examples of the application of the proposed approach are considered: an analysis of the cognitive model of the air transport flow structure, an analysis of the regional communication space, and an analysis of changes in the global communication field. The results of the analysis can be useful for assessing the development of the communication field of various regions, which will allow us to solve the problems of forming forecasts and effective scenarios for the development of transport flows at different hierarchical levels of economic management. Full article

This paper introduces a simulation model designed as a decision-making tool to assess and analyze various crowd management strategies with a focus on enhancing sustainability in airport operations. This model specifically addresses the challenges and risks associated with managing passenger flows within airport terminals. By simulating different scenarios, the model aims to provide valuable insights into how to effectively handle crowd dynamics and enhance overall terminal efficiency, safety, and sustainability. This case study was conducted at Henri Coanda International Airport, ARENA 12 simulation software being used in order to model the passenger flows within the airport terminal. Two scenarios were considered: The first one involves maintaining a fixed number of security and check-in desks for the two airline groups. In contrast, the second scenario allows for a variable number of security and check-in desks for the same airline groups. By optimizing resource allocation and minimizing waiting time, this model contributes to more sustainable airport management operations. Three measures of performance (MOPs) were selected to assess the system activity: the average passenger waiting time, the average passenger number queue length, and the average utilization rate. Comparing the results, we concluded that the second scenario shows a relative improvement in almost all performance measures when compared to the first scenario. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic was a health, economic, and financial crisis. The aviation sector was one of the most severely hit. Despite the extensive literature on this, COVID-Finance has been focused on stock returns, neglecting what could be learnt from the spreads of airlines’ credit default swaps (CDSs). This would seem of the utmost importance, given the epicenter of the crisis within the credit market. In this paper, an in-depth analysis of airlines’ CDS spreads is conducted. It is found that they were severely hit, for all airlines studied. However, the results of the PSY test showed that speculative trading led the surge, as explosive roots were found in the spreads of all these aviation firms. The dramatic increase in CDS spreads has contributed to already high borrowing costs for airlines. Our results suggest that aviation bail outs have helped to mitigate spreads’ explosiveness. Monetary policy measures have also limited, albeit indirectly, the funding risk posed by the government bail outs. By the end of March 2021, spreads were no longer explosive, and were approaching, at highly heterogeneous paces, their pre-pandemic values. Notwithstanding, airlines’ stock prices have been notably resistant to recovery. Full article

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors are crucial in evaluating a company’s value. High ESG scores reflect ethical practices, social responsibility, and effective governance. This paper examines the impact of ESG criteria on firm value within the airline industry, focusing on their influence on operational efficiency, risk reduction, and financial performance. Using panel data analysis, the study evaluates ESG scores from 32 airline companies over the period of 2018–2023, with an explanatory power of 36.5%. The research explores how integrating environmental, social, and governance factors into strategic management can foster sustainable competitive advantage. It focuses on utilizing internal resources, meeting the needs of various interested parties, and balancing financial, social, and environmental performance. The findings indicate that while ESG practices enhance firm value through improved efficiency and risk management, they do not always lead to higher short-term firm value. Moreover, the study underscores the significance of governance in the airline industry, where robust governance structures can mitigate risks but may also increase costs. This research contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence of the link between ESG performance and firm value in the airline industry, emphasizing the importance of integrating ESG principles into strategic management for long-term sustainability and financial success. Full article

A company’s brand equity is built through sustainable development. Sustainability practices are increasingly being adopted by a wide range of organizations, with the aviation industry being particularly prominent. This trend can play a key role in enhancing brand equity within the Korean aviation sector. Specifically, the focus is on whether sustainability practices contribute positively to brand value within the aviation industry. The primary objective is to examine how service quality and sustainability practices influence airline brand equity through mediating factors. While previous research has predominantly explored airline service quality, this study aims to analyze the influence of sustainability practices on brand equity, particularly targeting Korean Air, amid the increasing interest in sustainability research within the airline industry. Additionally, a survey was conducted on 379 Korean Air passengers, and structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed for analysis. The results indicate a strong positive correlation among service quality, sustainability practices, and brand equity, suggesting heightened passenger interest in airline sustainability practices, along with service quality. Hence, this theoretical investigation signifies a potential positive impact on the Korean aviation industry. Full article

As the global aviation sector expands to accommodate increasing air travel demand, the subsequent rise in flights exacerbates carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, challenging the sector’s environmental sustainability. Targeting net-zero emissions by 2050, international aviation agencies are stressing the imperative of reducing emissions directly at their source. While the literature provides abundant estimates of aviation emissions from airline flights, there has been a lack of work aimed at quantifying CO₂ emissions specific to the general aviation sector. This study investigates CO₂ emissions attributed to the pilot training sub-sector within Canada’s general aviation sector. It specifically examines the initial phase of pilot training, known as ab initio training, extending through to the attainment of a commercial pilot license. Utilizing a mathematical framework alongside assumptions, combined with data on license issuances over a 23-year period, it estimated that each hour of flight training emits about 70.4 kg of CO₂, varying between 44.9 kg and 94.9 kg per hour. Annual CO₂ emissions from Canada’s ab initio pilot training are estimated at approximately 30,000 tons, with a possible range of 19,000 to 40,000 tons. The study also explores mitigation opportunities, such as flight simulation training devices and electric aircraft. Though focusing on Canada’s ab initio pilot training, the findings have international relevance. Full article