Solving the Integrated Schedule Generation and Fleet Assignment Problem: an ACOBased Metaheuristic Approach

Abstract Traditionally, the initial steps on airline planning – Schedule Generation and Fleet Assignment problems – are solved separately. This traditional approach usually leads to suboptimal solutions, since flight profitability – the decision criteria to schedule a flight – depends on what aircraft type will be used on that flight. On the other hand, the type of aircraft assigned to a flight will be different accordingly to the available scheduled flights. Because of this interdependence, airlines avoid complete redesign of their flight network, adopting a conservative approach and ...