Think in networks
A flight is not an isolated product. Schedule, aircraft, crews, gates, maintenance, passenger connections, and downstream rotations are linked.
- Trace how one delay can propagate across the network.
- Identify scarce resources such as gates, crews, and aircraft.
- Distinguish local optimization from network performance.
- Consider recovery options and their downstream effects.
Connect operations to economics
Airlines balance demand, capacity, frequency, price, service, and cost under intense competitive and regulatory constraints.
- Separate fixed, variable, and opportunity costs.
- Consider load factor together with yield and revenue.
- Ask how network structure changes economics.
- Look for tradeoffs between utilization and resilience.
Use simulation to learn from decisions
A simulation is useful when you explain why a decision produced an outcome—not only whether your team won.
- Record the assumptions behind each decision.
- Compare expected and actual results.
- Identify second-order effects and competitor responses.
- Use each round to improve the next decision.
Explore the industry broadly
Aviation careers extend far beyond pilots and flight attendants.
- Airport operations and administration.
- Airline revenue, network planning, and operations.
- Cargo, logistics, and ground services.
- Technology, safety, regulation, customer experience, and consulting.
Use these resources as a starting point. Your course Canvas site remains the official source for assignments, deadlines, grades, and course-specific instructions.