Scheduling issues and network strategies for international airline alliances

An efficient network structure with co-ordinated schedules is necessary to realise the potential of an international airline alliance. This paper considers the scheduling issues that particularly affect alliances including multiple hub operations, other interfaces between routes, airport slot and terminal allocations and the through working of aircraft. Key principles are identified and illustrated with examples from current airline operations. Comparisons are made of the effectiveness of the major alliance groupings in the European arena and strategies to optimise the coverage and connectivity of the combined networks are advanced.