A Multiobjective Hierarchical Covering Model for the Essential Air Services Program

Abstract

This paper presents the development of a mathematical programming model for evaluating options for the continuance of the Essential Air Services (EAS) program, a provision of the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978. The EAS program was established to guarantee continued air service to small communities that suffered air service losses as a result of carrier withdrawals permitted by the Deregulation Act. The model has been designed to aid decision makers in allocating subsidized air services to communities in a region, given the goal of maximizing access to the air transportation system. In order to provide information on optimal service locations, service characteristics, and patterns of access, the authors have utilized a maximal covering formulation and incorporated elements of hierarchical and weighted benefit models. In addition, a stopover service option has been included in the model to permit evaluation of potential gains in economic efficiency that may be realized by utilizing stopover service, when appropriate, in place of more costly nonstop service. In addition to the coverage objective, a second objective of systemwide cost minimization is employed. By using a multiobjective approach, the trade-offs between the conflicting objectives of coverage and cost can be explored and the spatial patterns of service associated with each combination of coverage level and cost can be examined. The model is applied to a sample study of small community air service in North and South Dakota.