This is a network analysis addressing yemenia network, considering SANAA as the main hub of the airline, it use U curve, and developing optimum operating curve for yemenia - yemen airways

1. Study
SANA’A
Historical
Background:
Sanaa is the
capital of Yemen
Republic, and it is
one of its largest
cities, located
in middle of the
country, in a high
altitude region on
Sarrwat Mountains
without outlet to
the see. It has
one airport named
Sanaa International
Airport, and
the city is well
connected by land
(road network,
which break to
the north Sanaa
and Saddah and
south-west Sanaa-
Hoddida finally
Sanaa – Dammar
– Aden) Aden is
the coastal city.
Sanna city is
considered as
one of the Yemeni
historical cities
that is related to
the bloodline of
Sheba, it was
the capital of the
Himyarite Kingdom
at the onset of 6th
century AD. At the
Mohammed S. Awad beginning it hold
Researcher in Aviation Sciences
“Azal” and when
All Routes Lead to SANA’A
the Ethiopians took
over Sanaa they
found its building
of stones, and
named it Sanaa,
which means
well protected in
their language.
Introduction
Airline networks vary according to implemented strategies; some of them follow point
to point, others are applying Hub and Spoke while mega airlines implement
“Hub to Hub” operation strategy. Also the competition environment factor plays an important
role in developing survival strategies in the airline industry by monitoring and evaluating profit/
loss performance report. The hub strategy is usually used by medium carriers as Legacy
Airlines to serve the high population cities and redirected to other destinations by utilizing the six
freedom, and the major alliances between airlines as One World, SKY Team, and Star Alliance
to the contraction of many small airlines, and merge, consolidated large carriers as KLM and
Air France to face world competition market. Where-as airlines in developing countries, are
trying to use cost reduction strategy by implement IATA program as simplifying the business,
and optimize all available resources by using optimizing technique especially for operating
network and scheduling program, which use a powerful tool known as linear program. 8
12

2. Study
Fig. No. (2): Optimum Fig. No. ( 3 ): U Curve Fig. No. (4): Fleet Evaluation
SANAA – Main Yemeina Hub Case Study by positioning two factors: seat
Yemenia is counted on Hub Middle East Region: configuration and cost per ATK.
and Spoke strategy and is also By studying the Yemenia 6- The one (aircraft) which is
on 6th freedom policy, the 6th segment of Middle East close to the curve represents
freedom policy is a gathering Region, i.e number of the right selection. In our case
policy in Sanaa airport to passengers, applicable fare, A310-300 is the best one
redirect them to others and distance covered; using compared with the other two.
destinations. While the targeted 2007 data base, and the A330-200 indicates less cost
market of Yemenia segment previous business model as it is long range operation
is defined by Yemen Region, figure (1). Also equation (1) aircraft, with extra capacity,
Saudia, African, Europe, Middle reflects Point To Point operating while B737-800 is having
East and far east regions and Fig. No. (1): The Model
model. We can develop the high cost with less in capacity
that might be represented by: optimum operating curve, then as indicated in Fig (4).
1- SAH/DXB/SAH selecting the right aircraft,
2- SAH/BAH/SAH 1- U curve Technique: which will help in preparing Summary
3- SAH/AUH/SAH given passengers, fares, the scheduling of the network, The study shows the
4- SAH/CAI/SAH and distance, we can which will be as follows: importance of linear
5- SAH/DAM/SAH know the right capacity 1- All the routes and seat programming in practice
6- SAH/ADD/SAH and optimum frequency available are analyzed by especially for scheduling and
7- SAH/JIB/SAH to operate by constructing two costs – 1st : Cost of network problems, also it
8- SAH/JED/SAH a spread sheet model. available seat 2nd: Cost introduces the concept of U
9- SAH/BEY/SAH 2- Integer Program: of losing Opportunity. curve technique, which defines
This is the main part of the 2- The outcome cost of the the right capacity consequently
Business Model analysis, which builds up the two previous costs (Total deriving the optimum solution
Most of the airlines are model that contains target Cost), which takes the shape curve which is considered as
using a business model as (objective) and constrains of U and the minimum level the thumb for the airline for
Point To Point, we can study the objective which is here of this cost reflects the best this market segment, this is
Middle East segment of minimizing the Cost. decision of seat capacity applicable to the airline used
Yemenia by implementing the 3- Optimum Solution Curve: to operate by using linear point to point operating model.
relationship in equation (1): By introducing the cost in the programming as it is indicated We apply this approach for
which explore the following? program as step function we in table (1) and figure (3). Middle East region of Yemenia
can develop optimum solution 3- The difficulty of this analysis by developing optimum
curve for the airline by studying denoted by the unknown figures solution for this region,
the distance between city SAH of the cost requires to work indicating the best way to
and the other destinations stepwise for the cost estimation select an aircraft for the market
that Yemenia operated. (i.e step function): we can by showing the preference of
Here we can compare and draw the optimum operating A310-300 over A330-200 and
select the right aircraft to this curve, accordingly figure (4). B737-800 as shown in Fig.(4).
market segment. Provided 4- The operating curve Despite the high capacity
that we know the aircraft represents the best optimum of A330-200, the cost is less
Equation No. (1): The
capab ility range, so that the solution for that segment than A310-300; this gives more
Right Capacity & Optimum comparison will be addressing and it covers all the opportunity to expand Yemenia
Frequency is a function of the same families of aircraft. As expenses and revenue. network and serve markets in
number of passengers, market compared in figure (2) between 5- It will be easy to select the the future especially for Multi
fare, distance traveled, and A320 Family and B737 NG. aircraft which fits the market, Stops Operating Model. n
applicable cost. Any airline
can be defined by the market
size, applicable fares, and
distances between the sectors.
While the cost is introduced
as step function to develop
optimum solution curve of the
airline, this curve acts as a
thumb that differ airline from
others. The business model
runs in a three phases:
Table No. (1): Analysis of
13

3. Civil Aviation & Meteorology Authority, April - June 2010, issue 7
Hamed Faraj Elected as
The Vice President of
ACAC Executive Council
Air travel disruption after the 2010
Eyjafjallajökull eruption
Iceland
Ash
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