A mixed logit based valuation of frequency in civil aviation from SP-data

This work uses data from a stated preference survey to find customer valuations and suggests that westbound long-haul leisure passengers in general prefer flights with afternoon arrivals, which implies that flights should not be spaced equally over time, but be biased towards arriving earlier.

Abstract

Passengers valuate frequency in air travel positively because it enhances their chances of arriving at their desired time. The valuation of frequency is therefore related to the time of arrival of flights. We develop a framework to link frequency and time of arrival. We use data from a stated preference survey to find customer valuations, adopting the random parameters logit approach to account for heterogeneity. Our empirical results are pretty much in line with those brought forward by other empirical studies, using revealed preference data. Our outcomes suggest that westbound long-haul leisure passengers in general prefer flights with afternoon arrivals and that the majority of these travellers prefer arriving before their desired arrival time over arriving after their desired arrival time. This implies that flights should not be spaced equally over time, but be biased towards arriving earlier.