IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jaitra/v124y2025ics096969972500016x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Unlocking efficiency and environmental impact: Analyzing concessioned Brazilian airports

Author

Listed:
  • Domingos, Maria Cecília de Farias
  • Arantes Gomes, Rogéria de
  • Queiroz, Hélio da Silva
  • Falcão, Viviane Adriano

Abstract

This study explores airport efficiency concerning environmental performance, considering both positive and negative impacts of operations, particularly related to air pollution. While operational efficiency is commonly assessed, this research uniquely evaluates efficiency gains during concession periods and their environmental ramifications. The research aims to redefine the efficiency analysis paradigm by integrating variables that either benefit or harm the system. It uses Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to evaluate airport performance, assessing environmental efficiency through Window Analysis annually from 2015 to 2023. The airports in the sample are categorized into groups based on the volume of passengers in which inefficient ones and the benchmarks are identified. The results highlight heterogeneous environmental efficiencies among airports, with notable variations during the pandemic. Regional airports demonstrate efficiency gains, indicating that decentralizing domestic operations and using more efficient aircraft can reduce pollutant emissions. Additionally, the benchmark analysis identifies high-traffic airports as more likely to emit pollutants. Strategically planning competition among nearby concessioned airports is crucial for sustainable efficiency. This study underscores the intricate environmental and operational dynamics in the airport sector, advocating for a holistic approach to sustainable efficiency. The findings offer valuable insights for regulators, airport operators, and policymakers, suggesting pathways for continuous improvement in Brazilian airports' environmental efficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • Domingos, Maria Cecília de Farias & Arantes Gomes, Rogéria de & Queiroz, Hélio da Silva & Falcão, Viviane Adriano, 2025. "Unlocking efficiency and environmental impact: Analyzing concessioned Brazilian airports," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jaitra:v:124:y:2025:i:c:s096969972500016x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jairtraman.2025.102754
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096969972500016X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jairtraman.2025.102754?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. Brito, Igor R.S. & Oliveira, Alessandro V.M. & Dresner, Martin E., 2021. "An econometric study of the effects of airport privatization on airfares in Brazil," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 338-349.
    2. Mańkowska, Marta & Tłoczyński, Dariusz & Wach-Kloskowska, Małgorzata & Bulczak, Grzegorz, 2023. "Factors determining the implementation of green practices in airport management. The case study of Polish airports," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    3. Fan, L.W. & Wu, F. & Zhou, P., 2014. "Efficiency measurement of Chinese airports with flight delays by directional distance function," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 140-145.
    4. Wanke, Peter & Barros, C.P., 2017. "Efficiency thresholds and cost structure in Senegal airports," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 100-112.
    5. Charnes, A. & Cooper, W. W. & Rhodes, E., 1978. "Measuring the efficiency of decision making units," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 2(6), pages 429-444, November.
    6. Oum, Tae H. & Yan, Jia & Yu, Chunyan, 2008. "Ownership forms matter for airport efficiency: A stochastic frontier investigation of worldwide airports," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(2), pages 422-435, September.
    7. Wu, Chuntao & He, Xiaohe & Dou, Yi, 2019. "Regional disparity and driving forces of CO2 emissions: Evidence from China's domestic aviation transport sector," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 71-82.
    8. Pathomsiri, Somchai & Haghani, Ali & Dresner, Martin & Windle, Robert J., 2008. "Impact of undesirable outputs on the productivity of US airports," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 44(2), pages 235-259, March.
    9. John Vickers & George Yarrow, 1991. "Economic Perspectives on Privatization," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 5(2), pages 111-132, Spring.
    10. Ripoll-Zarraga, Ane Elixabete & Huderek-Glapska, Sonia, 2021. "Airports’ managerial human capital, ownership, and efficiency," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    11. Graham, Prof Anne, 2020. "Airport privatisation: A successful journey?," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    12. Francis, Graham & Humphreys, Ian & Fry, Jackie, 2002. "The benchmarking of airport performance," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 8(4), pages 239-247.
    13. Wang, Zhanwei & Song, Woon-Kyung, 2020. "Sustainable airport development with performance evaluation forecasts: A case study of 12 Asian airports," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    14. Yu, Ming-Miin & Hsu, Shih-Hsun & Chang, Ching-Cheng & Lee, Duu-Hwa, 2008. "Productivity growth of Taiwan's major domestic airports in the presence of aircraft noise," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 44(3), pages 543-554, May.
    15. Tae-Woong Yang & Joon-Ho Na & Hun-Koo Ha, 2019. "Comparative Analysis of Production Possibility Frontier in Measuring Social Efficiency with Data Envelopment Analysis: An Application to Airports," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-18, April.
    16. Bazzo Vieira, João Pedro & Vieira Braga, Carlos Kauê & Pereira, Rafael H.M., 2022. "The impact of COVID-19 on air passenger demand and CO2 emissions in Brazil," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    17. Oum, Tae H. & Adler, Nicole & Yu, Chunyan, 2006. "Privatization, Corporatization, Ownership Forms and their Effects on the Performance of the World’s Major Airports," 47th Annual Transportation Research Forum, New York, New York, March 23-25, 2006 208026, Transportation Research Forum.
    18. Fragoudaki, Alexandra & Giokas, Dimitriοs & Glyptou, Kyriaki, 2016. "Efficiency and productivity changes in Greek airports during the crisis years 2010–2014," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 306-315.
    19. Fernandes, Elton & Pacheco, Ricardo Rodrigues, 2018. "Managerial performance of airports in Brazil before and after concessions," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 245-257.
    20. 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.
    21. Kan Tsui, Wai Hong & Balli, Hatice Ozer & Gilbey, Andrew & Gow, Hamish, 2014. "Operational efficiency of Asia–Pacific airports," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 16-24.
    22. Güner, Samet & Cebeci, Halil İbrahim & Antunes, Jorge Junio Moreira & Wanke, Peter F., 2021. "Sustainable efficiency drivers in Eurasian airports: Fuzzy NDEA approach based on Shannon's entropy," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    23. Yu, Ming-Miin, 2004. "Measuring physical efficiency of domestic airports in Taiwan with undesirable outputs and environmental factors," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 10(5), pages 295-303.
    24. Oum, Tae H. & Adler, Nicole & Yu, Chunyan, 2006. "Privatization, corporatization, ownership forms and their effects on the performance of the world's major airports," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 12(3), pages 109-121.
    25. Dabachine, Yassine & Taheri, Hamza & Biniz, Mohamed & Bouikhalene, Belaid & Balouki, Abdessamad, 2020. "Strategic design of precautionary measures for airport passengers in times of global health crisis Covid 19: Parametric modelling and processing algorithms," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    26. Bezerra, George C.L. & Gomes, Carlos F., 2018. "Performance measurement practices in airports: Multidimensionality and utilization patterns," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 113-125.
    27. Lin, L.C. & Hong, C.H., 2006. "Operational performance evaluation of international major airports: An application of data envelopment analysis," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 12(6), pages 342-351.
    28. Iyer, K.Chandrashekhar & Jain, Soumya, 2019. "Performance measurement of airports using data envelopment analysis: A review of methods and findings," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    29. Peter Bogetoft & Lars Otto, 2011. "Benchmarking with DEA, SFA, and R," International Series in Operations Research and Management Science, Springer, number 978-1-4419-7961-2, December.
    30. Pacagnella, Antônio Carlos & Hollaender, Paulo Sodre & Mazzanati, Giovanni Vitale & Bortoletto, Wagner Wilson, 2021. "Efficiency drivers of international airports: A worldwide benchmarking study," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Güner, Samet & Cebeci, Halil İbrahim & Antunes, Jorge Junio Moreira & Wanke, Peter F., 2021. "Sustainable efficiency drivers in Eurasian airports: Fuzzy NDEA approach based on Shannon's entropy," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    2. Güner, Samet & İbrahim Cebeci, Halil, 2021. "Multi-period efficiency analysis of major European and Asian airports under fixed proportion technologies," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 24-42.
    3. Hu, Rong & Huang, Mengyuan & Zhang, Junfeng & Witlox, Frank, 2023. "On the Matthew effect in a multi-airport system: Evidence from the viewpoint of airport green efficiency," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    4. Myung Je Lee & Changhee Kim, 2018. "A network DEA aeronautical and non-aeronautical production model: an application to South Korea airports," Journal of Economic Structures, Springer;Pan-Pacific Association of Input-Output Studies (PAPAIOS), vol. 7(1), pages 1-12, December.
    5. Wang, Zhanwei & Song, Woon-Kyung, 2020. "Sustainable airport development with performance evaluation forecasts: A case study of 12 Asian airports," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    6. Fan, L.W. & Wu, F. & Zhou, P., 2014. "Efficiency measurement of Chinese airports with flight delays by directional distance function," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 140-145.
    7. Zou, Bo & Kafle, Nabin & Chang, Young-Tae & Park, Kevin, 2015. "US airport financial reform and its implications for airport efficiency: An exploratory investigation," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 66-78.
    8. Adler, Nicole & Liebert, Vanessa, 2014. "Joint impact of competition, ownership form and economic regulation on airport performance and pricing," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 92-109.
    9. Liu, Dan, 2016. "Measuring aeronautical service efficiency and commercial service efficiency of East Asia airport companies: An application of Network Data Envelopment Analysis," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 11-22.
    10. Huynh, Triet Minh & Kim, Gyuseung & Ha, Hun-Koo, 2020. "Comparative analysis of efficiency for major Southeast Asia airports: A two-stage approach," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    11. Pamucar, Dragan & Özçalıcı, Mehmet & Gurler, Hasan Emin, 2025. "Evaluation of the efficiency of world airports using WENSLO-ARTASI and Monte-Carlo simulation," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    12. Güner, Samet & Seçkin Codal, Keziban, 2022. "Endogenous and exogenous sources of efficiency in the management of Turkish airports," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    13. Lai, Po‐Lin & Potter, Andrew & Beynon, Malcolm & Beresford, Anthony, 2015. "Evaluating the efficiency performance of airports using an integrated AHP/DEA-AR technique," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 75-85.
    14. lo Storto, Corrado, 2018. "Ownership structure and the technical, cost, and revenue efficiency of Italian airports," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 175-193.
    15. Adler, Nicole & Ülkü, Tolga & Yazhemsky, Ekaterina, 2013. "Small regional airport sustainability: Lessons from benchmarking," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 22-31.
    16. Adler, Nicole & Liebert, Vanessa & Yazhemsky, Ekaterina, 2013. "Benchmarking airports from a managerial perspective," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 41(2), pages 442-458.
    17. Bezerra, George C.L. & Gomes, Carlos F., 2018. "Performance measurement practices in airports: Multidimensionality and utilization patterns," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 113-125.
    18. Yu, Ming-Miin & Rakshit, Ipsita, 2023. "Assessing the dynamic efficiency and technology gap of airports under different ownerships: A union dynamic NDEA approach," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    19. Baltazar, Maria Emília & Rosa, Tiago & Silva, Jorge, 2018. "Global decision support for airport performance and efficiency assessment," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 220-242.
    20. D’Alfonso, Tiziana & Daraio, Cinzia & Nastasi, Alberto, 2015. "Competition and efficiency in the Italian airport system: new insights from a conditional nonparametric frontier analysis," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 20-38.

    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:124:y:2025:i:c:s096969972500016x. 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.