An optimisation strategy for small airports

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aviation industry is an extremely dynamic industry where all stakeholders need toensure that the operational margins are clearly identified and adhered to. Failure toactively and continuously streamline operations might cause almost immediatenegative effects to a firm. Or in the worst case, might even cause overnightinsolvency and closure.Just as for the other stakeholders it is equally important to the Airport OperatingAuthority to be able to offer to its clients all required operational systems. In order tobe able to make an operational profit, it is important that the Airport OperatingAuthority does not waste scarce resources on maintaining oversized componentswithin these systems.The components of these systems are all intertwined and most play an important rolein the smooth running of the operations of the airport as a whole. It is clear that, ifone of these components is optimised, it should optimise the system it forms part ofwhich again should be beneficial to the airport-operational system as a whole.In an effort to be able to identify those components that will have the biggest overalleffect on airport operations, it is proposed that the method of Analytic HierarchyProcess be used. This method allows one to compare components that, under normalcircumstances, is considered to be incomparable. In other words, the AHP allows youto compare apples with oranges.Once these components are identified, one can use quantitative methods likeregression analysis to identify a more optimum solution.This strategy does not promise a golden answer to operational problems but will assistan airport authority eager to have as lean as possible operations.It can be concluded that the strategy of identification, through utilisation of theAnalytic Hierarchy Process, and optimisation, through Quantative Methods, affordsthe analyst a systematic approach to increase financial viability and sustainability ofan airport which may otherwise place a tremendous load on limited resources.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University