This study adopted a system optimization approach to establish a recovery aircraft allocation model to minimize flight delays. A recovery aircraft assignment model was developed that combined network flow technology and mathematical programming methods. To validate the model, tests were conducted by grounding different aircraft types using operational data from a Taiwan airline. The results show that the proposed model efficiently solves and can obtain the optimal solution within one minute. Furthermore, the tests show that a greater proportion of grounded aircraft types may disable more flights and cause delays. Various flight delay strategies were used for the sensitivity analyses. The results show that when the allowable delay time increases, the number of flights that cannot be implemented decreases. However, this decrease does not continue indefinitely after a certain allowable delay time. A similar trend is observed in the total delay time. In conclusion, the proposed model can serve as a planning assistance tool for aircraft reassignment to provide decision-makers with an essential reference.
