Exploring Airline Gate-Scheduling Optimization Using Quantum Computers

Abstract: This paper investigates the application of quantum computing technology to airline gate-scheduling quadratic assignment problems (QAP). We explore the quantum computing hardware architecture and software environment required for porting classical versions of these type of problems to quantum computers. We discuss the variational quantum eigensolver and the inclusion of space-efficient graph coloring to the Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO). These enhanced quantum computing algorithms are tested with an 8 gate and 24 flight test case using both the IBM quantum computing simulator and a 27 qubit superconducting transmon IBM quantum computing hardware platform.