Speaker: Frank S. Koppelman, Ph.D., Northwest University Evanston, IL

This Seminar will offer a unique opportunity for all those interested in intermodal and multimodal travel demand analysis, and also for those interested in emerging ways of applying market research, to hear from one of the top travel demand modelers in the US. The research being presented develops an integrated conceptual framework for the analysis of air travel demand and the factors that influence it. An individual traveler approach is used to identify and measure the relative importance of factors that influence travelers' choice of a carrier, flight, and fare class. A better understanding of the forces influencing traveler choice behavior will enable decision makers to assess the impacts of service, pricing, and marketing strategies on the demand for carrier service. The empirical analysis provides insights into air travel demand including differences in travelers' perceptions of carrier service and the patterns of traveler membership in carrier's frequent flyer programs. The analysis of travelers' choice behavior enhances our understanding of the relative importance of carrier market presence, perceptions of carrier service, participation in frequent-flyer programs, and sensitivity to price and schedule convenience.

Frank S. Koppelman is a highly respected authority on travel behavior analysis and forecasting. His work has contributed to the development of new approaches to the analysis and prediction of passenger travel demand based on the integration of econometric and market research methods. Dr. Koppelman has applied his research to the study of urban, suburban and intercity travel behavior. He has been a professor of Civil Engineering and Transportation at Northwestern University since 1975. Educated at MIT and Harvard, Dr. Koppelman holds both a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering and an MBA. He served as a senior transportation planner with the NY area's Tri-State Regional Planning Commission. He is active in the Transportation Research Board and is currently the Associate Editor of Transportation Research.