Case Study: NASA achieves clearer long-term aviation economics insights with AnyLogic

Modeling the Future of High-Speed Commercial Aircraft

NASA, working with AnyLogic, needed a better way to evaluate the long-term economics and operations of future high-speed commercial aircraft. The challenge was that existing Excel-based models relied on averages and fixed assumptions, making it hard to track individual aircraft, evolving routes, maintenance, and demand over decades.

AnyLogic helped NASA and SpaceWorks implement a simulation-based model in the MIDAS environment to represent fleets, routes, airports, operators, and manufacturers dynamically over time. The model validated well against the original cost model, improved visibility into fleet and route behavior, and increased confidence in scenario testing; based on these results, the AnyLogic model was recommended as the primary tool for future analysis.

NASA