Probabilistic Flight Delay Predictions Using Machine Learning and Applications to the Flight-to-Gate Assignment Problem
The problem of flight delay prediction is approached most often by predicting a delay class or value. However, the aviation industry can benefit greatly from probabilistic delay predictions on an individual flight basis, as these give insight into the uncertainty of the delay predictions. Therefore,...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Aerospace |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/8/6/152 |
| _version_ | 1797532346774192128 |
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| author | Micha Zoutendijk Mihaela Mitici |
| author_facet | Micha Zoutendijk Mihaela Mitici |
| author_sort | Micha Zoutendijk |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The problem of flight delay prediction is approached most often by predicting a delay class or value. However, the aviation industry can benefit greatly from probabilistic delay predictions on an individual flight basis, as these give insight into the uncertainty of the delay predictions. Therefore, in this study, two probabilistic forecasting algorithms, Mixture Density Networks and Random Forest regression, are applied to predict flight delays at a European airport. The algorithms estimate well the distribution of arrival and departure flight delays with a Mean Absolute Error of less than 15 min. To illustrate the utility of the estimated delay distributions, we integrate these probabilistic predictions into a probabilistic flight-to-gate assignment problem. The objective of this problem is to increase the robustness of flight-to-gate assignments. Considering probabilistic delay predictions, our proposed flight-to-gate assignment model reduces the number of conflicted aircraft by up to 74% when compared to a deterministic flight-to-gate assignment model. In general, the results illustrate the utility of considering probabilistic forecasting for robust airport operations’ optimization. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:57:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b39582fa979d4d2caf082a12920b74ae |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2226-4310 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:57:51Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Aerospace |
| spelling | doaj.art-b39582fa979d4d2caf082a12920b74ae2023-11-21T21:46:41ZengMDPI AGAerospace2226-43102021-05-018615210.3390/aerospace8060152Probabilistic Flight Delay Predictions Using Machine Learning and Applications to the Flight-to-Gate Assignment ProblemMicha Zoutendijk0Mihaela Mitici1Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Kluyverweg 1, 2926 HS Delft, The NetherlandsFaculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Kluyverweg 1, 2926 HS Delft, The NetherlandsThe problem of flight delay prediction is approached most often by predicting a delay class or value. However, the aviation industry can benefit greatly from probabilistic delay predictions on an individual flight basis, as these give insight into the uncertainty of the delay predictions. Therefore, in this study, two probabilistic forecasting algorithms, Mixture Density Networks and Random Forest regression, are applied to predict flight delays at a European airport. The algorithms estimate well the distribution of arrival and departure flight delays with a Mean Absolute Error of less than 15 min. To illustrate the utility of the estimated delay distributions, we integrate these probabilistic predictions into a probabilistic flight-to-gate assignment problem. The objective of this problem is to increase the robustness of flight-to-gate assignments. Considering probabilistic delay predictions, our proposed flight-to-gate assignment model reduces the number of conflicted aircraft by up to 74% when compared to a deterministic flight-to-gate assignment model. In general, the results illustrate the utility of considering probabilistic forecasting for robust airport operations’ optimization.https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/8/6/152probabilistic predictionmachine learningflight delayflight-to-gate assignment problem |
| spellingShingle | Micha Zoutendijk Mihaela Mitici Probabilistic Flight Delay Predictions Using Machine Learning and Applications to the Flight-to-Gate Assignment Problem Aerospace probabilistic prediction machine learning flight delay flight-to-gate assignment problem |
| title | Probabilistic Flight Delay Predictions Using Machine Learning and Applications to the Flight-to-Gate Assignment Problem |
| title_full | Probabilistic Flight Delay Predictions Using Machine Learning and Applications to the Flight-to-Gate Assignment Problem |
| title_fullStr | Probabilistic Flight Delay Predictions Using Machine Learning and Applications to the Flight-to-Gate Assignment Problem |
| title_full_unstemmed | Probabilistic Flight Delay Predictions Using Machine Learning and Applications to the Flight-to-Gate Assignment Problem |
| title_short | Probabilistic Flight Delay Predictions Using Machine Learning and Applications to the Flight-to-Gate Assignment Problem |
| title_sort | probabilistic flight delay predictions using machine learning and applications to the flight to gate assignment problem |
| topic | probabilistic prediction machine learning flight delay flight-to-gate assignment problem |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/8/6/152 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT michazoutendijk probabilisticflightdelaypredictionsusingmachinelearningandapplicationstotheflighttogateassignmentproblem AT mihaelamitici probabilisticflightdelaypredictionsusingmachinelearningandapplicationstotheflighttogateassignmentproblem |