Recent Advances in Crew-Pairing Optimization at American Airlines

Abstract

Crew-pairing optimization, the most important and computationally intensive part of crew assignment, contends with union and FAA work rules and pay guarantees to arrive at a low cost solution for assigning crews to fly a monthly schedule. The trip reevaluation and improvement program (TRIP) generates annual savings in excess of $20 million. Considered the preeminent solution mechanism for problems of this type, TRIP has been sold to 10 major airlines and one railroad.