Here's why optimization delivers bigger benefits than AI in airline network planning

There has been a lot in the news about artificial intelligence (AI) in recent weeks, not least due to the launch of ChatGPT and Google’s Bard AI.

At Industrial Optimizers, we are sure that AI will make a big impact on the aviation industry - not least on the B2C side in customer service and sales.

However, we are equally sure that optimization will continue to be the method to offer the greatest benefits for airline network planning.

In fact, we are so sure that we asked ChatGPT. And it didn’t disagree. Here’s what it had to say:

Optimization is (…) a better method than AI in certain situations, particularly when it comes to airline network planning.

One reason optimization is often preferred is that it is a more transparent and explainable approach. Optimization models are typically designed to maximize or minimize a specific objective function while satisfying a set of constraints. This means that the results of an optimization model are more easily interpretable and can be explained to stakeholders in a clear and concise manner. (…)

Another advantage of optimization is that it can provide more certainty around the results. Optimization models are based on mathematical algorithms that are designed to produce a specific output. This means that the results are often more reliable and can be used to make more accurate predictions about the airline network. In contrast, AI models can be more unpredictable and can produce unexpected results.

Finally, optimization is often more efficient than AI when it comes to airline network planning. Optimization models can be designed to solve specific problems quickly and efficiently, which is important when dealing with large amounts of data and complex airline networks. In contrast, AI models can require significant amounts of time and computational resources to train and implement.”

Industrial Optimizers’ MP2 suite of tools for airlines come with multiple optimizers that ensure airlines can maximize the profitability of their operation.

Want to find out more about MP2? Contact our team at info@industrialoptimizers.com to set up a demo.