Strategic Network Planning
Network Planning & Scheduling › Schedule Planning · 17 L4 steps · 5 phases · 6 decision gates · Updated 2026-03-18 18:43
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Process Flow Diagram (BPMN)
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L4 Process Steps
| Step | Step Name | Role / Swim Lane | System | Input | Output | KPI | Dec? | Exc? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Phase 1 1.1 |
Extract competitive schedule & capacity data | Network Intelligence Analyst | OAG Schedule Analyser | Annual planning cycle trigger; prior-year SSIM schedules | Competitor capacity matrix by O&D market (seats, frequencies, ASMs) | Market coverage: ≥95% of OAG universe validated within 5 business days | N | N |
| 1.2 | Ingest historical O&D traffic & yield data | Network Intelligence Analyst | Amadeus SkyCAST | 3-year rolling MIDT booking data, internal ticket coupon data | O&D demand baseline with seasonality indices per market pair | Demand model R² ≥0.90 vs actual bookings on back-test | N | N |
| 1.3 | Validate & cleanse market intelligence dataset | Senior Network Planner | AWS S3 / Redshift | OAG capacity matrix, SkyCAST O&D baseline, macroeconomic indices | Validated market intelligence dataset approved for modelling | Data completeness ≥98% of target O&D pairs before model run | Y | N |
Phase 2 2.1 |
Generate long-haul & medium-haul demand scenarios | Network Strategy Manager | Amadeus SkySYM | Validated market intelligence dataset; strategic growth targets from CEO brief | 3 demand scenarios (base, upside, downside) per O&D market for 3-year horizon | Scenario variance within ±15% of base-case for primary markets | N | N |
| 2.2 | Score and rank route opportunities by strategic fit | Network Strategy Manager | Amadeus SkyCAST | 3 demand scenarios, strategic priority filters (geography, alliance fit, connectivity) | Ranked route opportunity scorecard (revenue potential, strategic score, competitive intensity) | Top-20 route list updated within 2 weeks of scenario generation | N | N |
| 2.3 | Review route shortlist against network strategy guardrails | VP Network Planning | Tableau / Power BI | Ranked route opportunity scorecard, board-approved network strategy KPIs | Approved route shortlist (10–30 routes) for feasibility analysis | Shortlist approved within 5 business days of scorecard publication | Y | N |
Phase 3 3.1 |
Run fleet assignment optimisation for shortlisted routes | Fleet Planning Analyst | Amadeus SkyMAX | Approved route shortlist, current fleet plan, aircraft availability calendar | Fleet assignment plan with gauge recommendations per route | Fleet utilisation uplift ≥2% vs current plan in optimised output | N | N |
| 3.2 | Assess slot & airport capacity constraints | Slot Coordinator | IATA CRS (Coordinated Reservation System) | Fleet assignment plan, IATA WSG slot library for target airports | Slot feasibility report (available, historic grandfather, needs application) | Slot feasibility assessment completed ≥90 days before IATA scheduling conference | Y | Y |
| 3.3 | Evaluate airport infrastructure & ground handling readiness | Airport Development Manager | SITA Airport Management System (AMS) | Slot feasibility report, proposed frequencies, aircraft gauge | Airport readiness assessment (gates, ground handlers, customs, fuelling) | Infrastructure gap identified ≥12 months before proposed launch date | N | Y |
| 3.4 | Confirm operational feasibility of candidate routes | Senior Network Planner | Amadeus SkyWORKS | Fleet assignment plan, slot feasibility report, airport readiness assessment | Operationally feasible route set confirmed in SkyWORKS schedule editor | ≥80% of shortlisted routes confirmed feasible without major constraint | Y | N |
Phase 4 4.1 |
Build unit revenue & yield forecast per candidate route | Revenue Management Analyst | Amadeus Revenue Management (NRM / AltéaRM) | Confirmed feasible route set, demand scenarios, competitive fare data from ATPCO | PRASM and RASM forecast per route across base/upside/downside scenarios | RASM forecast accuracy within ±8% of actuals on launched routes (tracked retrospectively) | N | N |
| 4.2 | Model direct operating costs per route | Finance Business Partner — Network | SAP S/4HANA Finance (FI/CO) | Fleet assignment plan (aircraft type, block hours), fuel price assumptions, airport charges schedule | CASM breakdown per route (fuel, airport, crew, maintenance, overhead allocation) | CASM model completed within 10 business days of receiving fleet assignment input | N | N |
| 4.3 | Assess route contribution margin and breakeven load factor | Network Strategy Manager | Tableau / Power BI | RASM forecast, CASM breakdown, targeted load factor assumptions | Route P&L summary with breakeven load factor and payback period | Target contribution margin ≥12% in Year 2; breakeven load factor ≤75% | Y | N |
| 4.4 | Aggregate network business case for plan period | VP Network Planning | AWS S3 / Redshift | Individual route P&L summaries, network-level synergy assumptions (feed, connectivity) | 3-year network business case document (revenue, cost, EBIT impact) | Network EBIT uplift ≥$150M over plan period vs do-nothing baseline | N | N |
Phase 5 5.1 |
Package strategic plan for governance review | Network Strategy Manager | Tableau / Power BI | Network business case, route scorecard, risk register | Executive briefing pack: network strategy summary, investment ask, risk matrix | Briefing pack issued ≥5 business days before Network Strategy Committee meeting | N | N |
| 5.2 | Present plan to Network Strategy Committee | VP Network Planning | Tableau / Power BI | Executive briefing pack, committee member pre-read questions | Committee decision: approved / approved with conditions / rejected with rationale | Committee decision reached in ≤2 review cycles (no more than 1 deferral per plan) | Y | N |
| 5.3 | Publish approved strategic network plan & handoff to scheduling | Network Strategy Manager | Amadeus SkyWORKS | Approved committee decision, final route list with gauge and frequency targets | Published strategic network plan loaded into SkyWORKS as planning baseline for Schedule Planning team | Plan published in SkyWORKS ≤3 business days after committee approval | N | Y |
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