Network RM (or O-D Control) represents a major step
beyond the fare class mix capabilities of most thirdgeneration
RM systems, and is currently being pursued
by the largest and most advanced airlines in the
world. As its name implies, O-D control gives the airline
the capability to manage its seat inventory by the
revenue value of the passenger’s origin-destination
itinerary on the airline’s network, not simply according
to the fare class requested on a single flight leg.
Because a leg-based RM system cannot distinguish
among itineraries in the same fare class, optimizing
fare class mix on each flight leg individually will not
ensure that total network revenues are being maximized.
This is especially true for the large connecting
hub networks operated by many airlines, in which a
substantial proportion of passenger itineraries involve
multiple flight legs and a connection at the hub.