Cooperative approaches to managing air traffic efficiently—the airline perspective

After decades of operating in a traditional customer–supplier relation, airlines and airports have started to discover the potential of cooperation strategies. Here we present an approach of how to identify possible fields for cooperation between the two players and give examples for proven successful joint development initiatives. In more detail we elaborate on two specific case studies, targeting at two entirely different kinds of actors. The field of air service development (ASD) enables airports to attract additional traffic in order to better utilize existing capacities. Collaborative decision making (CDM) on the other hand is an approach supporting the optimized utilization of congested airport infrastructure and air space. We conclude that even with low investment needs substantial benefits can be generated for the cooperating parties, opening room for further future cooperation projects.