Abstract: A schedule optimization method for international flight considering alliance connection was proposed in this paper
to fully leverage the value of alliance cooperation. The optimization model regarded scheduled delay cost of originating nonstop passengers and the transfer time cost of transfer passengers as opportunity cost, and incorporated
into the objective function of maximizing the total profits of airlines. The constraints including transfer time, deviation coefficient, passenger number limit and arrival time of target flight, were introduced to ensure the smooth connection of previous and subsequent flights in the alliance network. A two-stage solution algorithm was designed to
ensure both the single optimal time and the overall optimal time for multiple flights within a feasible range. In the
case analysis of the route market from Shanghai Pudong International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport,
it can increase the profits of airlines by approximately 319 000 yuan by operating according to the optimized three
flight departure time. The results showed that optimized flight schedules based on alliance connection can effectively reduce passenger opportunity costs and increase airline profits, which verifies the model can provide reference for airlines to develop flight schedules with alliance cooperation.

Key words: air transportation, flight schedule optimization, airline alliance, flight connection