Academics / Undergraduate Program / Client Project Challenge / ProjectJetBlue Peak-Period Operations Planning Simulation
December 15, 2025
Client: JetBlue
Project: Peak-Period Operations Planning Simulation
Key client contact: Atishay Saraogi
Student team: Will Stork, Gabe Essex, Saif Prabhu and Jay Diffley
Faculty advisor: Yiping Lu
Overview
As JetBlue continues to expand and refine operations across key airport locations, the team sought a structured way to evaluate operational capacity decisions in a complex, time-sensitive environment. Many of the relevant decisions involve balancing cost control with reliable performance—especially during peak travel periods when small bottlenecks can cascade into delays.
To support planning without disrupting live operations, a Northwestern Client Project Challenge team developed a discrete-event simulation tool that allows JetBlue to test “what-if” scenarios, understand baggage system behavior under different conditions, and compare resource tradeoffs in a consistent, repeatable way.
What the students built
The student team built a flexible ProModel simulation that enables users to adjust key baggage system demand and capacity assumptions and view projected performance across scenarios. The model was designed to be:
- Configurable: Users can modify inputs to reflect different operating conditions and peak periods.
- Practical: Scenarios can be run quickly to support planning discussions as assumptions change.
- Reusable: The framework is structured to be adapted for additional locations and evolving operating needs over time.
Results and recommendations
Using the model, the team compared multiple operating scenarios to illustrate how performance changes when capacity is constrained versus when resources are added beyond what is needed. The output provides JetBlue with a structured way to evaluate tradeoffs—supporting near-term planning while also establishing a foundation that can be extended as operations evolve.
Deliverables
- A working ProModel discrete-event baggage system simulation model
- Scenario-testing capability for rapid “what-if” evaluation
- Documentation and guidance so JetBlue can maintain, update, and extend the tool internally
- A summary of insights and decision considerations
From Atishay Saraogi, Industrial Engineer, JetBlue:
“Jay, Will, Gabe, and Saif did an awesome job! The model captured all the nuances we discussed and more. The team gave great recommendations for additional opportunities as well. This work will help inform decisions we need to make for this winter travel period and will become a useful tool for us going forward.
We use ProModel for a lot of our simulation needs. It was great that the team was able to learn ProModel so quickly and build a working model in such a short period of time.”
Read about JetBlue on their website.