Airport competition from airports’ perspective: Evidence from a survey of European airports

In this study, we describe the results of a questionnaire distributed among European airports in the autumn of 2019. The questionnaire was designed to elicit airports’ views on the practicalities of competition between airports. We received 49 responses from airports in 24 countries; the respondents represent airports of different sizes. The survey results evidence behaviours consistent with significant competition between airports. Airports are taking active steps through their resourcing and staffing, incentives and marketing to attract airline services, and clearly see themselves taking the initiative in doing so. No airport, no matter how large, appears to be able to escape competition. The main policy message of our study, consistent with other recent reviews of airport competition, is that European regulators should re-evaluate their approach to the economic regulation of airports, especially as far as regional airports are concerned.

Airport competition, general framework of analysis

Research article. Over the past 25 years the aviation market liberalization has been one of the factors driving the changing business environment in which airports operate today. These are beginning to stop being natural monopolies and are already competing with their market power being threatened. The factors driving airport competition are: greater freedom and flexibility of airlines to decide where their fleet operates, and their ability to change base of operations; more and better options for passengers to plan and decide where to start and finish their trips / tours; privatization of airports; and the entry into the market of new airports. This review article analyzes, through these factors, and from a general framework, the characteristics of airport competition today.ResumenArtículo de investigación. Durante los últimos 25 años la liberalización del mercado de la aviación ha sido uno de los factores que impulsó el cambiante entorno comercial en el que operan los aeropuertos hoya. Estos están empezando a dejar de ser monopolios naturales y ya compiten entre sí, con lo que su poder de mercado se ve amenazado. Los factores que impulsan la competencia aeroportuaria son: una mayor libertad y flexibilidad de las líneas aéreas para decidir desde donde operan su flota, y su capacidad de cambio de base de operaciones; más y mejores opciones de los pasajeros para planificar y decidir desde donde iniciar y terminar sus viajes/tours; la privatización de los aeropuertos; y la entrada al mercado de nuevos aeropuertos. Este artículo de revisión analiza, a través de dichos factores, y desde un marco general, las características de la competencia aeroportuaria hoy en día.ResumoArtigo de pesquisa. Nos últimos 25 anos, a liberalização do mercado de aviação tem sido um dos fatores que impulsionam o ambiente de negócios em mudança em que os aeroportos operam hoje. Estes estão começando a deixar de ser monopólios naturais e já estão competindo uns com os outros, com seu poder de mercado sendo ameaçado. Os fatores que impulsionam a concorrência nos aeroportos são: maior liberdade e flexibilidade das companhias aéreas para decidir onde sua frota opera e sua capacidade de mudar a base de operações; mais e melhores opções para os passageiros planejarem e decidirem por onde começar e terminar suas viagens / passeios; privatização de aeroportos; e a entrada no mercado de novos aeroportos. Este artigo de revisão analisa, através destes fatores, e de um quadro geral, as características da competição aeroportuária hoje.

Analysis and Validation of a New Access System to the Airport Salerno-Costa D'Amalfi

Airport accessibility is an important criterion for airport choice and therefore also for an airport competition. When users choose an itinerary, they think about the transport chain from an origin to a destination. Therefore, the variables having an impact on their decision for a given alternative go beyond the price and quality of air services from one airport to another. The decision for or against a given air service and a given airport is to a certain extent dependent on the accessibility of the airport.The objective of this manuscript is to propose an analysis and a validation of a new access system to the airport Salerno-Costa d’Amalfi in Campania region, in the south of Italy, due to its growing development. Three different scenarios are proposed and simulated. Performance indicators are provided in order to quantify the effects of the alternative interventions aiming at improving the accessibility of the airport itself. Policy-makers may be interested in a more accessible airport since these interventions may have impacts on the regional socioeconomic development.