For the past decades, airports have had much freedom in terms of deciding on the entry and exit destinations of their flights. However, when planning a new route, economic, safety, and physical considerations are to be taken into account. Hence, the first and arguably the most significant aspect of planning a new route is the account for alternative aerodromes during travel. When faced with unpredicted weather conditions or technical issues, the pilots are to have an option to land the plane somewhere in between the entry and exit points for the sake of passenger safety. According to Skybrary, at least two destinations’ alternate aerodromes should be included when planning a route.
Another important factor to consider when estimating a new route concerns the states and countries, the airspace of which would be crossed during the flight. For example, when in order to fly from France to Poland, the pilot is to fly across Germany, the airplane company shall obtain legal permission to fly through Germany’s airspace. In case such a request is denied, an alternative route should be identified.
When speaking of alternative routes, the account for different options to reach the same destination point is also important for the company’s efficiency and economic sustainability to develop various route blueprints and choose the most cost- or time-efficient option. Another practical consideration that affects the company’s revenue is deciding on the routes operated by the airline. Hence, according to Nguyen and Nguyen, choosing popular routes increases the competition in the market and may become a liability for the business that has now to meet the market requirements for this route. Creating a unique route, on the other hand, may become an asset once the relevance of such flights is proven within the airport’s catchment area.
Finally, it is necessary to account for such indicators as the plane’s physical characteristics, including weight, maximum velocity, and altitude. These aspects help define an approximate length and cost of a route while also considering the safety measures regarding the designated flight. Considering all the aforementioned factors, it is difficult to outline the most significant, as they are all interrelated and create a strong causal link. However, it would be reasonable to assume that the most impactful considerations are the ones that account for passenger safety, including the account for the physical capabilities of an airplane, its condition, and the map of destination alternatives along the route.