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Evolution trends of the network structure of Spring Airlines in China: A temporal and spatial analysis

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  • Jiang, Yonglei
  • Yao, Baozhen
  • Wang, Lu
  • Feng, Tao
  • Kong, Lu

Abstract

Both the sustainable development of China's economy and the deregulation of the China air transport market have acted as a spur for the halting development of low-cost carriers (LCCs) in China. To analyze the development trends of LCCs' network in China, this paper took Spring Airlines, the only LCC in China as an example. First, the winter flight plans of Spring Airlines from 2005 to 2013 were collected. Secondly, the development trends of air transport network of Spring Airlines were explored with methods of mathematical statistics and social network analysis. Additionally, the development trends were analyzed from the levels of navigable cities, air routes and air transport networks. The results show that although Spring Airlines actively launched air routes between tourist cities with non-class I airports, its network has been transformed from a star structure into a complex one with multi-hubs. The development process of the Spring Airlines network can be separated into three stages. In addition, the problems and evolution trends of its network are discussed further.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiang, Yonglei & Yao, Baozhen & Wang, Lu & Feng, Tao & Kong, Lu, 2017. "Evolution trends of the network structure of Spring Airlines in China: A temporal and spatial analysis," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 18-30.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jaitra:v:60:y:2017:i:c:p:18-30
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jairtraman.2016.12.009
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    Cited by:

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    3. Wu, Chuntao & Liao, Maozhu & Zhang, Yahua & Luo, Mingzhi & Zhang, Guoquan, 2020. "Network development of low-cost carriers in China's domestic market," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    4. Chung, Hye Min & Kwon, Oh Kyoung & Han, Ok Soon & Kim, Hwa-Joong, 2020. "Evolving network characteristics of the asian international aviation market: A weighted network approach," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 299-313.
    5. Xiaowei Tang & Siyu Ren & Xinyao Ma & Kurt Fuellhart, 2022. "Borrowing Power from Potential Entrants and High-Speed Rail: Entry Pattern of China’s Low-Cost Carrier," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-16, May.
    6. Frédéric Dobruszkes & Jiaoe Wang, 2019. "Developing a low-cost airline in a semi-protected regime: Comparing China to Europe and the US," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/286424, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    7. Mueller, Falko, 2023. "Link and edge weight prediction in air transport networks — An RNN approach," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 613(C).
    8. Dobruszkes, Frédéric & Wang, Jiaoe, 2019. "Developing a low-cost airline in a semi-protected regime: Comparing China to Europe and the US," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 48-58.
    9. Liao, Maozhu & Wu, Chuntao & Yan, Hongmeng, 2022. "Recovery of Chinese low-cost carriers after the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).

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