Creating a mock airline schedule
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Creating a mock airline schedule
New poster here. I'm a CTI student who's struggling to find information Online I need for an airline operations class. My assignment is to create a schedule for the airline of my choice between two destinations (SEA and LAX). I'm told I will have a minimum of six destinations and a maximum of eight destinations a day and that 70 percent of the passengers will be vacationers. I will be using Boeing 737s.
I have searched — unsuccessfully — all over the Internet to find the breakdown for how many civil passengers are vacationers vs. business travelers. Does anyone know where I could find a typical breakdown between the two? How would my schedule vary if I'm dealing primarily with "vacationers?" (I would guess more condensed trip rather than spreading it out and providing flexibility for business travelers.)
I can find current service schedules between LAX and SEA for Alaska Airlines, which during 2010 typically ran 8-10 flights between the two destinations. If I'm creating a new service, would I want to go head-to-head with those scheduling times or create times that are at different times of the day? Also, starting out, would I want to compete with the maximum number of flights or the minimum? (Start out conservatively and then add flights or be aggressive?)
Anyone have any suggestions/help for any of these questions?
Thanks, in advance!!
I have searched — unsuccessfully — all over the Internet to find the breakdown for how many civil passengers are vacationers vs. business travelers. Does anyone know where I could find a typical breakdown between the two? How would my schedule vary if I'm dealing primarily with "vacationers?" (I would guess more condensed trip rather than spreading it out and providing flexibility for business travelers.)
I can find current service schedules between LAX and SEA for Alaska Airlines, which during 2010 typically ran 8-10 flights between the two destinations. If I'm creating a new service, would I want to go head-to-head with those scheduling times or create times that are at different times of the day? Also, starting out, would I want to compete with the maximum number of flights or the minimum? (Start out conservatively and then add flights or be aggressive?)
Anyone have any suggestions/help for any of these questions?
Thanks, in advance!!
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A start
Assumptions:
Vacationers making up 70%, is a good point to base the following assumptions on.
Which is considered the input point, and which is the vacation destination.
Do the vacationers arrive on other carriers, and if so at what times and frequency.
Vacationers will have more baggage than business travelers, (in general).
Now for some conclusions:
The best utilization of any aircraft would be about 75% of the 24 hour period.
A target load factor of 65% should be the minimum acceptable.
In general vacationers seek LOW prices, and happy with low levels of service, but would appreciate high level of quality, (if you get my point).
I would not aim for early morning departures, due to airport congestion, possible fof ice etc, in early mornings, but allow for later evening flights. So keep 6 or 8 hours for mtce, etc.
I would start with TWO round trips per day, and look at the alternative carrier, to see when their loads are in the 90% range, and try to operate 1hr after they schedule to depart. (pick up top rate passengers).
You do not indicate how many aircraft, but I would think 2 to start, with enough crews to cover the next two aircraft, close at hand.
Good luck with the project
Vacationers making up 70%, is a good point to base the following assumptions on.
Which is considered the input point, and which is the vacation destination.
Do the vacationers arrive on other carriers, and if so at what times and frequency.
Vacationers will have more baggage than business travelers, (in general).
Now for some conclusions:
The best utilization of any aircraft would be about 75% of the 24 hour period.
A target load factor of 65% should be the minimum acceptable.
In general vacationers seek LOW prices, and happy with low levels of service, but would appreciate high level of quality, (if you get my point).
I would not aim for early morning departures, due to airport congestion, possible fof ice etc, in early mornings, but allow for later evening flights. So keep 6 or 8 hours for mtce, etc.
I would start with TWO round trips per day, and look at the alternative carrier, to see when their loads are in the 90% range, and try to operate 1hr after they schedule to depart. (pick up top rate passengers).
You do not indicate how many aircraft, but I would think 2 to start, with enough crews to cover the next two aircraft, close at hand.
Good luck with the project
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Points to consider -:
Vacationers tend to be more flexible with departure times than business passengers.
Vacationers tend to have more luggage than business passengers.
Vacationers are often accompanied by children.
Vacationers are restricted to day of travel rather than time of travel, most companies only allow their staff to take complete weeks leave I.E. Mon-Fri ergo flights on Friday evening onwards outbound returning Sunday afternoon or evening would be better loaded than mid week departures.
Business travelers are more likely to tolerate busy terminals due to desired/required time of arrival, but will expect better "service".
Hope it helps
Be lucky
David
Vacationers tend to be more flexible with departure times than business passengers.
Vacationers tend to have more luggage than business passengers.
Vacationers are often accompanied by children.
Vacationers are restricted to day of travel rather than time of travel, most companies only allow their staff to take complete weeks leave I.E. Mon-Fri ergo flights on Friday evening onwards outbound returning Sunday afternoon or evening would be better loaded than mid week departures.
Business travelers are more likely to tolerate busy terminals due to desired/required time of arrival, but will expect better "service".
Hope it helps
Be lucky
David
