Efficient Aircraft Allocation in Airport Aprons for Aircraft Evacuation Prior to Large-scale Typhoons

Abstract

Abrupt airport outages resulting from natural disasters can cause operational interruptions in airports and airlines. In this study, we investigate aircraft evacuation to shelter airports prior to typhoons. Considering different aircraft allocation strategies in airport aprons, we establish a model for aircraft allocation in an apron with two objectives: maximum number of evacuated aircraft in an apron and maximum possible utilization of the apron. Further, we develop a heuristic to determine optimal aircraft evacuation schemes corresponding to different priorities. We simulate aircraft evacuation to the available airports during Typhoon 19 in 2019 and compare different aircraft allocation schemes based on different priorities. The findings of this study can provide useful guidelines for practitioners.