A model for aircraft evaluation to support strategic decisions

•This paper presents a novel multi-criteria decision-making model for aircraft evaluation.•The model is based on a combination of Analytic Hierarchy Process and Fuzzy Set Theory.•A variety of criteria aligned to contemporary airlines’ requirements is included.•The model overcomes limitations of existing approaches proposed to deal with the problem.•A real-world empirical study testifies the usability and usefulness of the model.

In the contemporary air transport industry, many factors, such as environmental impact, service quality and comfort are becoming increasingly crucial. In this context, airlines and manufacturing companies can no longer consider air transport exclusively as a cost-oriented problem; thus, for airlines, the choice concerning the purchase of the aircraft is no longer a simple matter of minimizing operative costs, but rather a multi-attribute problem, characterized by a high complexity level in which a variety of factors play a pivotal role. Given this scenario, the aim of this paper is to propose a novel model for aircraft evaluation, based on the investigation of airlines’ needs. The model is based on the two main approaches proposed in literature to address generic evaluation problems, Analytic Hierarchy Process and Fuzzy Set Theory, proposing a hybrid approach which combines some the strengths of the two methodologies. The usability of the hybrid model for the stakeholders of the air transport industry is investigated through an empirical study.