On the selection of aircraft-engine pairs for medium-haul Low-Cost Carriers operations

The selection of aircraft and engine models poses a significant challenge for Low-Cost Carriers (LCCs) striving for profitability. This decision is compounded by numerous subjective and objective variables and the vast array of available aircraft and engine configurations. Current methodologies, utilizing Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) and fuzzy logic, often simplify the problem, neglecting the engine consideration and limiting variables and alternatives. In this paper, we propose a novel methodology that circumvents these simplifications, considering engine configurations within the aircraft selection and addressing this problem for 27 parameters and real 51 selection alternatives. Through the consultation of different experts in the aeronautic field, we establish a comprehensive approach to assess the relative and overall performance of multiple variables, as well as their weights and hierarchy in the selection scheme. We apply this methodology to the aircraft selection problem in the medium-haul market, providing a framework and a solution for this currently unexplored literature domain. The results provide valuable insights for validating the devised methodology and providing relevant insights on the characteristics of the medium-haul market for LCCs.