Scheduling of runway operations for reduced environmental impact

Efficient runway operations are a necessary input for the optimal use of the air transportation system. Most efforts at improving runway efficiency have failed to capture the impact of environmental costs. Here we develop an integrated approach that models this complex relationship, and provides insights regarding the value of environmental optimization for runway scheduling. More specifically, using actual flight data we compare environmentally optimal schedules with first-come-first-serve based policies and fuel-optimal schedules. We determine that while significant savings in environmental costs can be achieved through environmentally optimal schedules, these savings are not very different than those obtained through fuel-optimal schedules. Further, we find that any increase in the operational costs of airlines due to an environmentally optimal schedule is minimal.

Research highlights► The paper develops a more complete way of increasing the efficiency of runway operations. ► It develops an integrated approach that provides insights regarding the value of environmental optimization for runway scheduling. ► Using actual flight data the paper compares environmentally optimal schedules with first-come-first-serve based policies and fuel-optimal schedules. ► Significant savings in environmental costs can be achieved through environmentally optimal schedules; these savings are not very different than those obtained through fuel-optimal schedules.