Downsizing the air freighter: simulation-based study of KLM cargo in Schiphol Airport

Recently KLM has revealed the plan to downsize the full-freight cargo fleet in Schiphol Airport, for that reason it is important for the company and the airport to explore the consequences of moving the cargo transported by the full freighters into the bellies of the passenger flights. The consequences of this action in terms of capacity and requirements are still unknown for the stakeholders. The current study illustrates that once the freighters are phased out, the commercial traffic needs to adjust mainly their load factors in order to absorb the cargo that was previously transported by the full freighters. The current model is a version that includes the airside operation of the airport and also the vehicle movement which allows addressing the uncertainties of the operation as well as the limitations and potential problems of the phasing-out action