Community Detection in Airline Networks: An Empirical Analysis of American vs. Southwest Airlines

In this paper, we develop a route-traffic-based method for detecting community structures in airline networks. Our model is both an application and an extension of the Clauset-Newman-Moore (CNM) modularity maximization algorithm, in that we apply the CNM algorithm to large airline networks, and take...

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Main Authors: Weiwei Wu, Haoyu Zhang, Shengrun Zhang, Frank Witlox
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2019-01-01
Series:Journal of Advanced Transportation
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/3032015
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author Weiwei Wu
Haoyu Zhang
Shengrun Zhang
Frank Witlox
author_facet Weiwei Wu
Haoyu Zhang
Shengrun Zhang
Frank Witlox
author_sort Weiwei Wu
collection DOAJ
description In this paper, we develop a route-traffic-based method for detecting community structures in airline networks. Our model is both an application and an extension of the Clauset-Newman-Moore (CNM) modularity maximization algorithm, in that we apply the CNM algorithm to large airline networks, and take both route distance and passenger volumes into account. Therefore, the relationships between airports are defined not only based on the topological structure of the network but also by a traffic-driven indicator. To illustrate our model, two case studies are presented: American Airlines and Southwest Airlines. Results show that the model is effective in exploring the characteristics of the network connections, including the detection of the most influential nodes and communities on the formation of different network structures. This information is important from an airline operation pattern perspective to identify the vulnerability of networks.
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institution Kabale University
issn 0197-6729
2042-3195
language English
publishDate 2019-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Journal of Advanced Transportation
spelling doaj-art-aef1718e12254c5f922aa944cb26f6a72025-02-03T01:11:26ZengWileyJournal of Advanced Transportation0197-67292042-31952019-01-01201910.1155/2019/30320153032015Community Detection in Airline Networks: An Empirical Analysis of American vs. Southwest AirlinesWeiwei Wu0Haoyu Zhang1Shengrun Zhang2Frank Witlox3College of Civil Aviation, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 210016 Nanjing, Jiangsu, ChinaCollege of Civil Aviation, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 210016 Nanjing, Jiangsu, ChinaCollege of Civil Aviation, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 210016 Nanjing, Jiangsu, ChinaCollege of Civil Aviation, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 210016 Nanjing, Jiangsu, ChinaIn this paper, we develop a route-traffic-based method for detecting community structures in airline networks. Our model is both an application and an extension of the Clauset-Newman-Moore (CNM) modularity maximization algorithm, in that we apply the CNM algorithm to large airline networks, and take both route distance and passenger volumes into account. Therefore, the relationships between airports are defined not only based on the topological structure of the network but also by a traffic-driven indicator. To illustrate our model, two case studies are presented: American Airlines and Southwest Airlines. Results show that the model is effective in exploring the characteristics of the network connections, including the detection of the most influential nodes and communities on the formation of different network structures. This information is important from an airline operation pattern perspective to identify the vulnerability of networks.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/3032015
spellingShingle Weiwei Wu
Haoyu Zhang
Shengrun Zhang
Frank Witlox
Community Detection in Airline Networks: An Empirical Analysis of American vs. Southwest Airlines
Journal of Advanced Transportation
title Community Detection in Airline Networks: An Empirical Analysis of American vs. Southwest Airlines
title_full Community Detection in Airline Networks: An Empirical Analysis of American vs. Southwest Airlines
title_fullStr Community Detection in Airline Networks: An Empirical Analysis of American vs. Southwest Airlines
title_full_unstemmed Community Detection in Airline Networks: An Empirical Analysis of American vs. Southwest Airlines
title_short Community Detection in Airline Networks: An Empirical Analysis of American vs. Southwest Airlines
title_sort community detection in airline networks an empirical analysis of american vs southwest airlines
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/3032015
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AT shengrunzhang communitydetectioninairlinenetworksanempiricalanalysisofamericanvssouthwestairlines
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