Jetblue Airways: Deicing at Logan Airport

Abstract

The case explores a deicing capacity expansion decision made by JetBlue at Boston Logan International Airport in the summer of 2010. The need for capacity expansion was driven by significant challenges faced during the previous winter combined with substantial scheduled growth for the upcoming winter.

Learning Objective: The case allows readers to explore the impact of demand variability on delays as demand approaches capacity. This provides an opportunity to introduce and/or reinforce Little's Law in a service context. Additionally, the context of the airline industry allows students to explore how delays and disruptions rapidly propagate throughout the system in a network of operations.