EURO 2025 Leeds
Abstract Submission

381. Optimizing Maintenance Facility Locations for Regional Airlines: Incorporating Seasonality in Hub Selection

Invited abstract in session TD-57: Air transportation II, stream Transportation.

Tuesday, 14:30-16:00
Room: Liberty 1.12

Authors (first author is the speaker)

1. Konstantia Kontodimou
Laboratory of Transportation Engineering, National Technical University of Athens
2. Stavroula Bagioneta
Laboratory of Transportation Engineering, National Technical University of Athens
3. Konstantinos Kepaptsoglou
Rural and Surveying Engineering, National Technical University of Athens

Abstract

Airlines streamline maintenance operations and adapt their hub configurations based on operational requirements to enhance efficiency and cost-effectiveness. This study develops an optimization model to design a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable network of maintenance facilities for a Greek regional airline, tailored to its flight routes. The model employs mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) to minimize total costs, including facility construction, operational expenses, environmental penalties, and distance-related costs. Constraints ensure operational feasibility by considering capacity limits, mandatory maintenance frequency, and geographic restrictions. The model prioritizes hubs with high overnight aircraft activity while accounting for regional labor and infrastructure costs. Additionally, it incorporates seasonality, recognizing fluctuations in air traffic due to tourism-driven demand in Greece. By analyzing seasonal operational data, the study explores the feasibility of temporary maintenance hubs activated during peak summer months. Results suggest Athens, Thessaloniki, and Heraklion as optimal year-round maintenance hubs, with select island airports serving as seasonal hubs to enhance network resilience and cost efficiency. This study advances facility location optimization by integrating dynamic demand fluctuations, offering a framework applicable to aviation and other industries with seasonal maintenance needs.

Keywords

Status: accepted

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