Real-Time Inter-Model Substitution (RTIMS) As An Airport Congestion Management Strategy

We explore the potential for real-time inter-modal substitution to reduce flight traffic and reduce delays in situations where there is a temporary severe shortfall in airport capacity or airport closure. Two schemes are discussed in this paper. One is that airlines cancel short-haul flights and rebook passengers on surface transport modes in cases when the delay savings from reduced flight traffic is greater than the costs and increased travel time associated with the surface mode. We demonstrate an optimization model that chooses which flight to cancel, and which flight to be substituted with ground transportation. As a second scheme, alternative hubs are selected among nearby airports and surface transportation links hub, alternative hub airports, and other spoke airports. Further study is needed to compare these two schemes for a real case.