Method for operating an elevator system comprising at least two cars (110, 120) which can be moved independently of one another in at least one common elevator shaft, wherein a first car of the at least two cars (110, 120) is determined by an elevator controller to perform a transport operation from a departure stop to a destination stop, wherein the elevator controller determines a start time of the first car at which the first car starts the transport operation from the departure stop and determines travel parameters, according to which the first car carries out the transport operation from the departure stop to the destination stop, wherein the start time and the travel parameters are determined by taking into account state parameters of at least one second car of the at least two cars (110, 120), and wherein the start time and the travel parameters of the first car are determined by taking into account the state parameters of the at least one second car when the at least one second car is located in an area between the departure stop and the destination stop, wherein it is taken into account as a state parameter whether the at least one second car leaves an area between the departure stop and the destination stop in the course of a transport operation to be carried out by the at least one second car within a specified time interval, wherein the elevator controller moves the at least one second car to an avoidance stop outside the area between the departure stop and the destination stop when the at least one second car does not leave the area between the departure stop and the destination stop in the course of a transport operation to be carried out by the at least one second car within the specified time interval. wherein a first car of the at least two cars (110, 120) is determined by an elevator controller to perform a transport operation from a departure stop to a destination stop, wherein the elevator controller determines a start time of the first car at which the first car starts the transport operation from the departure stop and determines travel parameters, according to which the first car carries out the transport operation from the departure stop to the destination stop, wherein the start time and the travel parameters are determined by taking into account state parameters of at least one second car of the at least two cars (110, 120), and wherein the start time and the travel parameters of the first car are determined by taking into account the state parameters of the at least one second car when the at least one second car is located in an area between the departure stop and the destination stop, wherein it is taken into account as a state parameter whether the at least one second car leaves an area between the departure stop and the destination stop in the course of a transport operation to be carried out by the at least one second car within a specified time interval, wherein the elevator controller moves the at least one second car to an avoidance stop outside the area between the departure stop and the destination stop when the at least one second car does not leave the area between the departure stop and the destination stop in the course of a transport operation to be carried out by the at least one second car within the specified time interval.