Cost optimisation modelling for airport capacity expansion problems in metropolitan areas

Woojin Choi and Dothang Truong
Additional contact information
Woojin Choi: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 1A Sirois Street, Australia
Dothang Truong: School of Graduate Studies and Professor of Aviation Data Science, USA

Journal of Airport Management, 2025, vol. 19, issue 4, 373-392

Abstract: The research described in this paper aimed to develop a cost optimisation model for determining the optimal approach to expanding airport capacity in metropolitan areas, taking into account demand uncertainties. The study began by analysing airport capacity expansion cases from diverse global regions to identify potential metropolitan-level solutions and key cost functions associated with airport capacity issues. A deterministic optimisation model was then developed using mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP), incorporating six cost functions: capital cost, operation cost, delay cost, noise cost, operational readiness airport transfer (ORAT) cost and passenger access cost. The model was validated through a case study of the Sydney metropolitan area in Australia over a 50-year horizon and further tested for reliability using six additional experimental models. Subsequently, the deterministic model was adapted into a stochastic optimisation model employing Monte Carlo simulation to address the uncertainties in future traffic demand. This stochastic model was evaluated under three different demand scenarios, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings highlight the model’s reliability and reveal the trade-offs among the six cost functions over time, as well as the influence of demand uncertainty on identifying optimal solutions. The research underscores the effectiveness of integrating MINLP and Monte Carlo simulation methods for long-term airport capacity planning in metropolitan areas and addressing the diverse needs of airport stakeholders. This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at https://hstalks.com/business/.

Keywords: airport capacity; airport expansion; cost optimisation model; multi-airport system; linear programming; Monte Carlo simulation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: M1 M10 R4 R40 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://hstalks.com/article/9986/download/ (application/pdf)
https://hstalks.com/article/9986/ (text/html)
Requires a paid subscription for full access.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aza:jam000:y:2025:v:19:i:4:p:373-392

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Journal of Airport Management from Henry Stewart Publications
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Henry Stewart Talks ().