IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jaitra/v64y2017ipap68-76.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Dynamic evolution of European airport systems in the context of Low-Cost Carriers growth

Author

Listed:
  • Jimenez, Edgar
  • Claro, João
  • Pinho de Sousa, Jorge
  • de Neufville, Richard

Abstract

Airport systems adapted to the influx of Low-Cost Carriers (LCC) as the segment grew in prominence in the European market during the last decades. The generalised perspective that LCCs are attached to remote secondary airports is being increasingly challenged by recent moves of the largest European LCC. The reality is that the impact of LCCs has spread to most commercial airports in Europe, primary and secondary alike. Yet, despite valuable insights on the evolution of airline networks, the existing literature lacks a clear understanding of why this has occurred. This paper explains the dynamics in the evolution of airports systems that resulted in significant growth for the low-cost segment in Europe. A multiple case study involving 42 European airports was used to identify the mechanisms that triggered the traffic patterns leading to the ascendency of LCCs in their respective airport systems. Understanding these mechanisms may prove valuable for supporting airport strategic planning.

Suggested Citation

  • Jimenez, Edgar & Claro, João & Pinho de Sousa, Jorge & de Neufville, Richard, 2017. "Dynamic evolution of European airport systems in the context of Low-Cost Carriers growth," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 64(PA), pages 68-76.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jaitra:v:64:y:2017:i:pa:p:68-76
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jairtraman.2017.06.027
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096969971730296X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jairtraman.2017.06.027?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Frédéric Dobruszkes & Moshe Givoni & Timothy Vowles, 2017. "Hello major airports, goodbye regional airports? Recent changes in European and US low-cost airline airport choice," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/239911, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    2. Martini, Gianmaria & Manello, Alessandro & Scotti, Davide, 2013. "The influence of fleet mix, ownership and LCCs on airports’ technical/environmental efficiency," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 37-52.
    3. Franke, Markus, 2004. "Competition between network carriers and low-cost carriers—retreat battle or breakthrough to a new level of efficiency?," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 10(1), pages 15-21.
    4. Frédéric Dobruszkes, 2006. "An analysis of European low-cost airlines and their networks," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/95835, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    5. Zhang, Anming & Hanaoka, Shinya & Inamura, Hajime & Ishikura, Tomoki, 2008. "Low-cost carriers in Asia: Deregulation, regional liberalization and secondary airports," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 24(1), pages 36-50.
    6. Paolo Malighetti & Gianmaria Martini & Stefano Paleari & Renato Redondi, 2007. "An Empirical Investigation on the Efficiency, Capacity and Ownership of Italian Airports," Working Papers 0703, Department of Management, Information and Production Engineering, University of Bergamo.
    7. Barbot, Cristina, 2006. "Low-cost airlines, secondary airports, and state aid: An economic assessment of the Ryanair–Charleroi Airport agreement," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 12(4), pages 197-203.
    8. Frédéric Dobruszkes, 2013. "The geography of European low-cost airline networks: A contemporary analysis," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/135954, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    9. Gillen, David & Lall, Ashish, 2004. "Competitive advantage of low-cost carriers: some implications for airports," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 10(1), pages 41-50.
    10. Frédéric Dobruszkes, 2009. "New Europe, new low-cost air services," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/95851, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    11. de Neufville, Richard, 1995. "Management of multi-airport systems," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 2(2), pages 99-110.
    12. Ben Abda, Mehdi & Belobaba, Peter P. & Swelbar, William S., 2012. "Impacts of LCC growth on domestic traffic and fares at largest US airports," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 18(1), pages 21-25.
    13. Pels, Eric & Njegovan, Nenad & Behrens, Christiaan, 2009. "Low-cost airlines and airport competition," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 45(2), pages 335-344, March.
    14. Malighetti, Paolo & Paleari, Stefano & Redondi, Renato, 2008. "Connectivity of the European airport network: “Self-help hubbing†and business implications," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 14(2), pages 53-65.
    15. Dobruszkes, Frédéric & Givoni, Moshe & Vowles, Timothy, 2017. "Hello major airports, goodbye regional airports? Recent changes in European and US low-cost airline airport choice," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 50-62.
    16. Paolo Malighetti & Gianmaria Martini & Stefano Paleari & Renato Redondi, 2007. "An Empirical Investigation on the Efficiency, Capacity Ownership of Italian Airports," Rivista di Politica Economica, SIPI Spa, vol. 97(1), pages 157-188, January-F.
    17. Barrett, Sean D., 2004. "How do the demands for airport services differ between full-service carriers and low-cost carriers?," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 10(1), pages 33-39.
    18. Dobruszkes, Frédéric, 2009. "New Europe, new low-cost air services," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 17(6), pages 423-432.
    19. Dobruszkes, Frédéric, 2013. "The geography of European low-cost airline networks: a contemporary analysis," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 75-88.
    20. Graham, Anne, 2013. "Understanding the low cost carrier and airport relationship: A critical analysis of the salient issues," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 66-76.
    21. Francis, Graham & Fidato, Alessandro & Humphreys, Ian, 2003. "Airport–airline interaction: the impact of low-cost carriers on two European airports," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 9(4), pages 267-273.
    22. Malighetti, Paolo & Paleari, Stefano & Redondi, Renato, 2009. "Pricing strategies of low-cost airlines: The Ryanair case study," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 15(4), pages 195-203.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jimenez, Edgar & Suau-Sanchez, Pere, 2020. "Reinterpreting the role of primary and secondary airports in low-cost carrier expansion in Europe," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    2. Frédéric Dobruszkes & Jean-Michel Decroly & Pere Suau-Sanchez, 2022. "The monthly rhythms of aviation: A global analysis of passenger air service seasonality," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/341140, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    3. Iyer, K. Chandrashekhar & Thomas, Nivea, 2021. "An econometric analysis of domestic air traffic demand in regional airports: Evidence from India," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    4. Bettini, Humberto F.A.J. & Silveira, José Maria F.J. & Oliveira, Alessandro V.M., 2018. "Estimating strategic responses to the march of a low cost carrier to primary airports," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 190-204.
    5. Pels, Eric, 2021. "Product differentiation and network optimality," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 415-429.
    6. Dobruszkes, Frédéric & Grippa, Taïs & Hanaoka, Shinya & Loko, Yéhuègnon & Redondi, Renato & Vowles, Timothy & Wang, Jiaoe, 2021. "Multiple-airport systems: The (re)development of older airports in view of noise pollution issues," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 298-311.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jimenez, Edgar & Suau-Sanchez, Pere, 2020. "Reinterpreting the role of primary and secondary airports in low-cost carrier expansion in Europe," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    2. Dziedzic, Marcin & Njoya, Eric T. & Warnock-Smith, David & Hubbard, Nick, 2020. "Determinants of air traffic volumes and structure at small European airports," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    3. Valido, Jorge & Socorro, M. Pilar & Medda, Francesca, 2020. "Airport capacity and entry deterrence: Low cost versus full service airlines," Economics of Transportation, Elsevier, vol. 22(C).
    4. Wong, Wai-Hung & Zhang, Anming & Cheung, Tommy King-Yin & Chu, Jeremy, 2019. "Examination of low-cost carriers' development at secondary airports using a comprehensive world airport classification," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 96-105.
    5. Mueller, Falko, 2022. "Examining COVID-19-triggered changes in spatial connectivity patterns in the European air transport network up to June 2021," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    6. Tavalaei, M. Mahdi & Santalo, Juan, 2019. "Pure versus hybrid competitive strategies in the airport industry," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 444-455.
    7. Castillo-Manzano, José I. & López-Valpuesta, Lourdes & Pedregal, Diego J., 2012. "What role will hubs play in the LCC point-to-point connections era? The Spanish experience," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 262-270.
    8. Dudás, Gábor & Boros, Lajos & Pál, Viktor & Pernyész, Péter, 2016. "Analysis of the lowest airfares considering the different business models of airlines, the case of Budapest," MPRA Paper 74502, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Choo, Yap Yin & Oum, Tae Hoon, 2013. "Impacts of low cost carrier services on efficiency of the major U.S. airports," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 60-67.
    10. Dobruszkes, Frédéric & Mondou, Véronique & Ghedira, Aymen, 2016. "Assessing the impacts of aviation liberalisation on tourism: Some methodological considerations derived from the Moroccan and Tunisian cases," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 115-127.
    11. Dobruszkes, Frédéric & Givoni, Moshe & Vowles, Timothy, 2017. "Hello major airports, goodbye regional airports? Recent changes in European and US low-cost airline airport choice," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 50-62.
    12. Allroggen, Florian & Wittman, Michael D. & Malina, Robert, 2015. "How air transport connects the world – A new metric of air connectivity and its evolution between 1990 and 2012," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 184-201.
    13. Lin, Eliver & Mak, Barry & Wong, Kevin, 2013. "The business relationships between LCCs and airports in Southeast Asia: Influences of power imbalance and mutual dependence," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 33-46.
    14. Malighetti, Paolo & Paleari, Stefano & Redondi, Renato, 2016. "Base abandonments by low-cost carriers," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 234-244.
    15. Loh, Hui Shan & Yuen, Kum Fai & Wang, Xueqin & Surucu-Balci, Ebru & Balci, Gökcay & Zhou, Qingji, 2020. "Airport selection criteria of low-cost carriers: A fuzzy analytical hierarchy process," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    16. Suau-Sanchez, Pere & Burghouwt, Guillaume, 2011. "The geography of the Spanish airport system: spatial concentration and deconcentration patterns in seat capacity distribution, 2001–2008," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 19(2), pages 244-254.
    17. Akamavi, Raphaël K. & Mohamed, Elsayed & Pellmann, Katharina & Xu, Yue, 2015. "Key determinants of passenger loyalty in the low-cost airline business," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 528-545.
    18. Kuljanin, Jovana & Kalić, Milica, 2015. "Exploring characteristics of passengers using traditional and low-cost airlines: A case study of Belgrade Airport," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 12-18.
    19. Wang Liao & Xiaoshu Cao & Shengchao Li, 2019. "Competition and Sustainability Development of a Multi-Airport Region: A Case Study of the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-21, May.
    20. Zhang, Hanxiang & Czerny, Achim I. & Grimme, Wolfgang & Niemeier, Hans-Martin, 2023. "The big three EU Low Cost Carriers before and during the Covid-19 pandemic: Network overlaps and airfare effects," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:jaitra:v:64:y:2017:i:pa:p:68-76. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-air-transport-management/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.