Gender gap in the ERASMUS mobility program

Studying abroad has become very popular among students. The ERASMUS mobility program is one of the largest international student exchange programs in the world, which has supported already more than three million participants since 1987. We analyzed the mobility pattern within this program in 2011-12 and found a gender gap across countries and subject areas. Namely, for almost all participating countries, female students are over-represented in the ERASMUS program when compared to the entire population of tertiary students. The same tendency is observed across different subject areas. We also found a gender asymmetry in the geographical distribution of hosting institutions, with a bias of male students in Scandinavian countries. However, a detailed analysis reveals that this latter asymmetry is rather driven by subject and consistent with the distribution of gender ratios among subject areas

Applying Airport Centrality as an Operational Continuity Indicator

Purpose: The research aims to propose a methodology to estimate the reliability of the Brazilian airport network (domestic passenger traffic), based on the centrality of airports (Network Theory). Design/methodology: The applied methodologies are related to Network Theory, a branch of Graph Theory, and reliability. Reliability is associated with the good functioning of a product or system, the absence of breaks or failures in each period and the environmental conditions of use of the item. The data used refer to the period 2000-2018 and were obtained from the sector's regulatory body in Brazil. The study allows to estimate the reliability of the airport network, based on the centrality of airports (Network Theory). Findings: The results allow airports to be classified into three groups: adequate context, worrying context and critical context, thus signalling airports that may stop operating regular domestic traffic. Research limitations/implications: The study does not aim to overlap or replace conventional analyses, recognized by the results, and applied over time. However, to present a new tool that allows the monitoring and preliminary analysis of airport networks, mainly domestic and regional networks, signalling to airport operators, regulators, and airlines the need for intervention (measures to reverse the trend) in the network, thus allowing, economic development and equitable access to all regions. Originality/value: The proposal of a complementary methodology based on the centrality of airports to analyze operational continuity.Peer Reviewe

COVID 19 Impact on Aircraft Ground Time at Congonhas Airport (CGH)

This project aims to research and analyze the impact of the increase of ground time at Congonhas Airport caused by the new safety procedures in aviation to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Aviation is a highly regulated industry, with the high cost and tiny margins. It focuses on optimizing one of the most expensive assets, the aircraft. To keep aircraft flying is one of the airline\u27s primary goals as aircraft on the ground means no revenue generation and cost increase. Congonhas Airport is one of the busiest airports in Brazil and already operated on its limited capacity before the crisis; higher ground time will bring operational and financial impact to the airlines, airport administrators, and suppliers. We selected the public database from ANAC and ABEAR that contains detailed data about arrivals and departures at Congonhas Airport to analyze the impact. We also used v available data from INFRAERO about the capacity and operational restrictions of the airport. In the first phase of the analysis, we worked with Python to measure the ground time duration before and after implementing the new procedures and validating the ground time increase hypothesis. The second phase was performed using Arena Software to simulate the airport\u27s movements, considering airlines\u27 ground time before and after implementing the new procedures. The results from both analyzes were complementary and allowed to confirm the hypothesis and identify the impact of the increase in the ground time due to the new cleaning and social distancing measures adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic

Ramping Up for Cost and Performance Improvements

The objective of this Research Project was to study the possible benefits of developing an improved Metering Control System. This study identified potential cost savings and reduced emissions through the greater use of a Metering Control System. The results of this research have indicated an annual cost reduction of $720,000 in fuel burn and a significant delay time reduction caused by accumulated ground traffic. In addition, during peak hours, it was concluded that savings could be potentially higher. Therefore, by optimizing the ground movement, it is also expected a lower level of CO2 emissions, an increased safety level due to more organized apron movements, and finally, an improved customer experience. The data presented in this research is in line with current Brazilian regulations, focused on reducing or minimizing airline ground delays. The selected airport sample is a main hub of an airline, concentrating 95% of its operation. Also, the airport is classified as the fourth busiest in terms of operation in Brazil. An inefficient apron management is responsible for causing a variety of disruptions in terms of on-time performance, fuel consumption and customer satisfaction. Some events may be reduced or even eliminated by applying simple practices, therefore, increasing efficiency without compromising safety

A comparison of corporate distress prediction models in Brazil: hybrid neural networks, logit models and discriminant analysis

This paper looks at the ability of a relatively new technique, hybrid ANN's, to predict corporate distress in Brazil. These models are compared with traditional statistical techniques and conventional ANN models. The results suggest that hybrid neural networks outperform all other models in predicting firms in financial distress one year prior to the event. This suggests that for researchers, policymakers and others interested in early warning systems, hybrid networks may be a useful tool for predicting firm failure.hybrid neural networks, corporate failures

Aviation Fuel Tankering and Sustainability: The Brazilian Scenario

This research project aims to investigate fuel tankering practices in the aviation industry, exploring their relation to carbon emissions and evaluating the Brazilian fuel tankering scenario in comparison to global and national policies and regulations. The study recommends sustainable national measures and compares global practices for minimizing the higher emissions due to fuel tankering. The results of the study show that the Brazilian aviation industry can sustainably neutralize the carbon emissions from the fuel tankering practice. The study recommends that airlines allocate part of the savings generated to purchasing carbon credits to offset the carbon emitted. Future research should focus on all members of the aviation ecosystem and external factors, including the fuel tankering post-pandemic scenario, the development of biofuels, and the global, cross-country analysis of fuel tankering strategies and their managerial processes

Assessing the efficiency of airports considering health and safety issues: A pilot study for Turkey

Purpose: Airport management is influenced by several related critical decisions on financial and technical operations. Optimum utilization of resources, including assets and personnel, is critical to achieve better service quality for the passengers and an efficient airport. Due to its importance, this paper aims to assess the performance of airports based on security, safety, and possible work-related health problems by considering the uncertain and unclear number of passengers and their baggage. Design/methodology: The efficiency of 30 airports in Turkey is evaluated with a basic Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model with two inputs and five outputs. Then, the model is redefined with an undesired output. High, medium, and low seasons are defined in the second DEA model to estimate the number of passenger baggage. The third model utilizes the principles of Fuzzy DEA (F-DEA) that aims to handle the uncertainty for the undesired output data. Findings: The results of three models confirm that the number and weight of baggage and consequently health and safety issues in airports should not be overlooked when optimizing airport efficiency. Utilizing the fuzzy theory has the potential to help managers to improve the operational efficiency of airports when dealing with an uncertain number of passengers and estimating the workload of baggage handlers. Research limitations/implications: No permission was given to make interviews with the ground handling personnel and gather real-life data to analyze task durations and workers’ body movements. Practical implications: Inputs, outputs, and undesired output defined in this study can be used to assess the airports in any other country. Social implications: The importance of health and safety issues for passengers, airport personnel, baggage handlers, and the residents who live close to the airports is considered. Originality/value: This study contributes to the airport performance assessment literature by considering the uncertain and dynamic data related to health and safety issues. This pioneering study, up-to-best knowledge, is the first to assess the airports in Turkey by DEA with the defined undesired output (baggage handler workload) and also utilizing the fuzzy model for the uncertain data.Peer Reviewe

Multivariate data envelopment analysis to measure airline efficiency in european airspace: a network-based approach

In this paper, data envelopment analysis (DEA) is applied to exhaustively examine the efficiency of the main airline companies in the European airspace by using novel input/output parameters: business management factors, network analysis metrics, as well as social media estimators. Furthermore, we also use network analysis to provide a better differentiation among efficiency values. Results indicate that user engagement, as well as the analysis of the position within the airspace-from an operative perspective, influence the efficiency of the airline companies, allowing a more comprehensive understanding of its functioning