Optimization model for sequencing arrival flights on parallel runways

The problem of terminal area congestion has become increasingly serious with the rapid development of civil aviation of China and growth of air traffic flow. This paper proposes the optimization of arrival flights sequencing and the assignment of runways for arrival flights when air traffic congestion happens in an airport so as to expedite the air traffic flow and reduce flight delays. A model of sequencing arrival aircraft on parallel runways is set up according to aircraft wake turbulence separation requirement. And then the genetic algorithm (GA) of dual codes is employed for the model to determine the sequencing strategy and assign the landing runway for each arrival flight with a pair of chromosomes. The simulation demonstrates that the proposed model can reduce flight delays more effectively compared with three other algorithms: the First Come First Service (FCFS) sequencing algorithm, the algorithm of firstly optimizing arrival flights sequencing and then optimizing the assignment of runways and the algorithm of firstly optimizing the assignment of runways for flights and then optimizing arrival flights sequencing.