Fuel Costs Optimization for Long-Haul Flight with Refueling Layovers

This study introduced a mathematical model aimed at optimizing fuel costs for long-haul flights, particularly those requiring refueling. The primary objective was to minimize fuel expenses by considering key factors such as flight routes, aircraft types, refueling points, and refueling quantities. The proposed solution used a 0-1 mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model, supported by auxiliary variables, to effectively manage the constraints of this optimization problem. The MILP model also considered differences in fuel costs at refueling points, including the departure airport. For validation, a case study was conducted involving a long-haul flight from airport AAA to DDD, with refueling options at airports BBB and CCC. The model effectively determined the most economical flight route, assessed the necessity of refueling, and calculated the required fuel amounts at each refueling location. In summary, this study demonstrated that the proposed model could successfully address the challenges of optimizing fuel costs in long-haul flight.