Minimum-cost capacitated fuzzy network, fuzzy linear programming formulation, and perspective data analytics to minimize the operations cost of American airlines

Abstract

Minimum-cost capacitated fuzzy network is formulated as a fuzzy linear programming problem. A novel fuzzy linear programming formulation for minimum-cost capacitated fuzzy network where the total resource constraints are fuzzy is proposed. The proposed model is then implemented to minimize the operations cost of American Airlines. The research is helpful to identify the most profitable destinations for the American Airlines. Twelve origin/destination pairs are taken into considerations namely Atlantic (A), Latin American (L), Pacific (P) and Domestic (D). Flight operations capacity, Available Seat Miles ASM, is taken as a measure of capacity. The goal is to minimize the flight operations cost while ensuring maximum flight operations capacities to all destinations. This is followed by perspective data analytics for “What American Airline should do to be more profitable?” Perspective analytics suggest the airline to extend flight operations capacity in certain origin/destination pairs, whereas to maintain the previous approximate average capacity for those having high operations costs. The solution of the proposed fuzzy model suggests that flight operations capacity ASM can be significantly increased by 22345148 (000) with relatively small increase 1539356 (000) USD in operations cost. The fuzzy model is superior for it emphasizes to increase flight operations capacity ASM for the origin/destination pairs with minimum flight operations costs.