Choosing point-to-point versus hub-and-spoke flights: a genetic algorithmic approach

  • Authors:

  • P. Ghazizadeh;R. Mukkanala;J. Creedon

  • Affiliations:

  • Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia;Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia;Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia

  • Venue:
  • Proceedings of the 2012 Symposium on Emerging Applications of M&S in Industry and Academia Symposium
  • Year:
  • 2012

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Abstract

The overcrowded airline hubs, an increase in time-conscious business travelers, and increase in fuel prices, have once again sparked the debate about the merits of current hub-and-spoke mode of airline routing versus direct point-to-point routing. In addition, there is now a need to consider two types of passengers---time conscious and cost conscious. In this paper, we present a detailed model for the passengers and the airlines. We propose a two-step heuristic approach to evaluate the viability of the choices, primarily keeping the passengers' interest in mind. In the first step, a genetic algorithm is employed to determine the hubs. The second step employs a deterministic algorithm to compare the costs under the two routing modes. We conclude that the passenger value of time and ticket cost, the waiting times at the intermediate hubs, and a discount cost factor for hub-to-hub and non-hub to hub travel are the critical factors for passengers to choose between hub-and-spoke and direct point-to-point flights.