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Which is a stronger competitor, High Speed Rail, or Low Cost Carrier, to Full Service Carrier? – Effects of HSR network extension and LCC entry on FSC's airfare in Japan

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  • Mizutani, Jun
  • Sakai, Hiroki

Abstract

In Japan, High Speed Rail (HSR) extended its network in 2011 and 2015, and Low Cost Carriers (LCC) entered into the domestic airline market in 2012. We compared the effects of the extension of the HSR network and the entry of LCCs on the airfares of the incumbent Full Service Carriers (FSC). We conducted Difference in Differences analysis with passenger level data to evaluate these market changes, and found that the effects of the HSR extension on FSC's airfares were consistently negative and larger in the short haul markets, while the effects of the entry of LCCs were inconsistent. HSR seems to be a stronger competitor than LCC to FSC and this finding could be affected by capacity, which is large for HSR while small for the LCCs.

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  • Mizutani, Jun & Sakai, Hiroki, 2021. "Which is a stronger competitor, High Speed Rail, or Low Cost Carrier, to Full Service Carrier? – Effects of HSR network extension and LCC entry on FSC's airfare in Japan," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jaitra:v:90:y:2021:i:c:s0969699720305482
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jairtraman.2020.101965
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Chen, Yilin & Yang, Hangjun & Wang, Kun & Guo, Lin, 2022. "Intercity network expansion by low-cost carrier or high-speed rail, from the environmental perspective," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    3. Pengxia Shen & Ping Yin & Bingjie Niu, 2023. "Assessing the Combined Effects of Transportation Infrastructure on Regional Tourism Development in China Using a Spatial Econometric Model (GWPR)," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-18, January.
    4. Asep Yayat Nurhidayat & Hera Widyastuti & Sutikno & Dwi Phalita Upahita, 2023. "Research on Passengers’ Preferences and Impact of High-Speed Rail on Air Transport Demand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-26, February.
    5. Mizutani, Jun & Sakai, Hiroki, 2023. "The effects of frequent flyer programs in the competition with high speed rail: A case study of air passenger preference in Japan," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).

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