What should airlines do to avoid flight delays: research
Airlines have long been competing to improve their punctuality performance, and a new study conducted by the University at Buffalo School of Management reveals the most effective strategies for improving their ratings on this key criterion.
Thus, the study found that operational changes, such as efforts to reduce travel time, improve boarding efficiency and minimize gate delays, are the best ways to improve on-time performance, followed by adding scheduling (where airlines allow themselves extra time to avoid official delays). At the same time, according to the data, changes in network structure, such as flight routes and schedules, had the least impact, UB writes.
"Airlines that begin to take such measures to change their operations will see the greatest improvement in on-time performance and ratings," says study co-author Milind Sohoni, PhD, professor of operations management and strategy at the UB School of Management.
The study analyzed 11 years of data from flights operated by U.S. carriers to measure on-time performance changes, schedule additions, and operational changes.
They found that the effectiveness of these strategies varies by airline type, such as full-service, commuter, low-cost, and leisure airlines. Full-service carriers, in particular, benefit the most from operational improvements.
The researchers say that airline managers should take a data-driven approach to setting productivity goals, taking into account factors such as route variability and competition.
