Reliability evaluation for airline network design in response to fluctuation in passenger demand

This study develops a reliability evaluation method for airline network design. Reliability evaluation in the airline network design phase is considered herein as a post-design task. A series of models for determining flight frequencies on individual routes, evaluating reliability under normal/abnormal demand fluctuations, and providing a priori adjustment of flight frequencies are presented. A case study demonstrating the feasibility of applying the proposed models is provided. Study results not only suggest a post evaluation and adjustment method for airline network design in response to future uncertain fluctuation in passenger demand, but also provide ways to improve flexibility in airline flight frequency decision-making.