Dynamic robustness of the European air transport network

Citation

Melgosa, M., Lordan, O. Sallan, J. M., Fernandez, V., Gonzalez-Prieto, D. (2015). Dynamic robustness of the European air transport network. 2015 ATRS World Conference. National University of Singapore (Singapore)

Abstract

The analysis of the robustness of an air transport network (ATN) - i.e., its resilience facing the isolation of random airports (errors) and the isolation of central airports (attacks) - can be undertaken from an static or a dynamic perspective. The static perspective, that is, the impact on ATN connectivity of the long-term isolation of a set of airports, has been assessed in previous research (e.g., Lordan et al. 2014), but there are few attempts to assess the transitory effects on network connectivity of total or partial closure of one or several airports. Through simulation of the European ATN, we assess the impact of the closure of several central airports in a given moment of time, determining the fraction of cancelled flights, flight delays and assessing the possibility of cascading effects (saturation of other airports). Results shows that the European ATN is relatively robust facing the closure of a single airport. Future research aims to assess other consequences of total or partial airport closure (e.g., flight delays and delay propagation) and the impact of other ATN disruptions (closure of a flight information region or an area control center).