Airport escort manpower supply planning and scheduling

Abstract

Given the growing demand for tourism and an aging population, the need for escort services in airport operations is increasing steadily. Therefore, optimizing the dispatching of escorts to reduce waiting times for passengers with reduced mobility is currently a significant concern. This study utilizes the time-space network technique and mathematical programming to develop a model for escort manpower supply planning and scheduling, aiming to minimize manpower needs. Additionally, the model incorporates service delay and task aborting strategies to better reflect real-world scenarios. To efficiently solve the model, we introduce both a Relax-and-Fix algorithm and a fairness-considerate flow decomposition algorithm. Using data from a Taiwan international airport, we conduct a case study and perform sensitivity/scenario analysis on various parameters. The results highlight the potential of the developed model and algorithms in effectively managing manpower supply planning, escort dispatching, and task assignment in practical situations.