August 25th, 2020.
Singapore Airlines was looking to leverage intuitive digital tools to assist engineers in pre-departure activities, as preparing the aircraft for its scheduled flight is an important phase prior to every flight journey. Quantum-South took the opportunity to introduce the cargo load optimization quantum solution, using an example for the largest Singapore Airlines cargo aircraft, in the airport with more cargo activity in the world: Hong Kong.
The potential areas proposed for innovation included water and waste servicing, provision of ground power and portable air-conditioning, towing etc. Singapore Airlines was looking out for digital tools that could make these activities more efficient, reduce potential errors, provide real-time information (on status or availability) and aid in decision-making.
This challenge statement was contributed by two entities:
1. SIA Engineering Company (SIAEC), that provides extensive aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services to more than 80 international airlines carriers (including SIA) and aerospace equipment manufacturers worldwide.
2. SIA Engineering Division (ED), that ensures SIA aircraft and cabin perform to the highest standards of safety, quality and reliability.
Pre-Covid-19, SIA had more than 100 flights taking off and landing in Singapore Changi Airport daily, while SIAEC services more than 200 flights daily. To maintain a high level of punctuality for all our customers, we need to make use of intuitive digital tools to help us in our maintenance activities.
For this AppChallenge, Singapore Airlies focus was on pre-departure activities, where they prepare the aircraft for its scheduled flight. This includes water and waste servicing, provision of ground power and portable air-conditioning, towing and pushback etc. The digital tools should make the activities more efficient, reduce potential errors, provide real time information (on status or availability) and aid in decision-making.
Singapore Airlines Cargo, a division within Singapore Airlines, operates a dedicated freighter fleet and also manages the cargo capacity on passenger flights operated by Singapore Airlines, Scoot and SilkAir. It was ranked 11th largest cargo airline in 2018.
Taking a look at the network, Singapore Airlines Cargo offers more than 900 flights a week from its Singapore hub, at Singapore Changi Airport (14th busiest cargo airport in 2019 world), linking more than 100 destinations.
Singapore Airlines Cargo places great emphasis on delivering quality service to customers. The on-time delivery commitments, as measured through the Cargo iQ industry standards, continue to be among the best in the industry.
The company has a great hub and handling capabilities. There are state-of-the-art ISO-certified airfreight terminals and rapid ramp transfers helping to ensure the shortest possible flight connections. Singapore Airlines Cargo transports a wide range of shipments on the flights, which includes rare animals, precious artworks and race cars.
Singapore Airlines Cargo largest aircraft is a B747-400F with a cargo capacity in the main deck of 30 pallets, and in the lower deck 9 pallets and 2 containers. With the ability to take payloads exceeding 100 tonnes and a flight range of around 13hours, the B747-400 is ideal for the long haul transport of large amounts of cargo with variants. Featuring both side and nose loading doors this aircraft is also extremely adaptable. With a long haul range, the cruise speed is 909 KM/H / 564 MPH and the payload 120000 KG / 264554 lbs.
Cargo demand & efficient capacity usage / Load optimization.
Airlines try to make the best use of an aircraft’s payload capability to maximize revenue, optimize fuel burn and lower overall operating costs. The scope for optimization is limited by the aircraft’s operational envelope, which is determined by each mission’s maximum payload capacity, the aircraft’s center of gravity limits and its fuselage shear limits.
Why is it important?
In normal times (non COVID), as there is a huge supply, not all times the loads are full. This leaves space for improvement. In COVID times demand is more than supply. It is important to plan uplift and cargo space more effectively. Airlines face a strong competitive business environment. It is very important to increase revenues and reduce costs. In current COVID scenarios the business environment is extremely complicated for airlines. How to use effectively the cargo fleet with the demand is key to navigate the challenging times.
How big is the problem?
In general with our solutions we expect to increase the cargo load factor and cargo yield, while reducing the cargo unit cost. According to the annual report 2018-2019, these figures have changed from 2017-2018 as follows:
Cargo and mail load (in tonne-km) expressed as a percentage of gross capacity (in tonne-km) has decreased from 65.3 to 62.5 (-2.8%).
Cargo yield (cents/ltk) : Cargo and mail revenue from scheduled services divided by cargo load (in tonne-km) increased from 30.00 to 31.7 (+5.7%)
Cargo unit cost (cents/ctk): Cargo operating expenditure divided by gross capacity (in tonne-km) increased from 16.2 to 16.5 (+1.9%).
How does it affect?
Quantum-South solution for cargo operations, and employees dealing with cargo delivery planning for the B747-400 fleet. In our initial business case, we focused on how to optimize the B747-400 fleet departing from Singapore Changi Hub to Hong Kong.
Quantum Computing brings a new way to deal with complex optimization problems addressing larger space problems and improving conventional algorithms results.
With our solutions we expect to increase the cargo load factor and cargo yield, while reducing the cargo unit cost.
Our Technology – What’s new and different?
Current approaches include greedy algorithms, branch-and-bound, dynamic programming by weights or by profits, and also genetic algorithms and neural networks. As an optimization problem, we can find a quantum advantage in evaluating high order combinations which otherwise would require a lot of computation time with conventional computers. For larger numbers quantum computers could provide and advantage compared to the solutions that are being used today.
Business Value
Among the benefits of the implementation of this solution cargo companies can get increased revenue per cargo flight, increase the cargo load factor and cargo yield and cost savings by reducing the cargo unit cost. Also there’s a potential reduced asset utilization by optimizing fleet usage according to the demand.
First movers can pioneer the new generation of optimization tools provided by quantum computing and leveraging the technology in the aerospace sector.
Other benefits include better cargo fleet and space utilization and process automation through new optimizations and less leverage on skilled headcount. The data input could be extended and automated to direct customer order entry.
The origin of Quantum-South’s solution is the participation in the Airbus Quantum Computing Challenge where we addressed a complex optimization problem to load containers in an aircraft subject to multiple restrictions. Based on that work have continued developing our solution adapting it to multiple scenarios and cargo transportation vehicles.
Our startup was accelerated in IoT Tribe (www.iottribe.org) in Europe who encouraged and facilitated Quantum-South’s participation in the Singapore Airlines AppChallenge 2020.