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The monthly rhythms of aviation: A global analysis of passenger air service seasonality

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  • Frédéric Dobruszkes
  • Jean-Michel Decroly
  • Pere Suau-Sanchez

Abstract

Aviation seasonality has been acknowledged for a long time, but no global picture is available. Our paper fills this gap by conducting a worldwide analysis of monthly passenger air services at the airport level, and discussing factors that shape this temporality. Our study found that 36% of airports worldwide (accounting for less than 12% of seats) experience a significant degree of seasonality, and that larger airports are less affected. On the one hand, diverse travel purposes related to larger cities, hubbing, physical geography, remoteness and appropriate weather throughout the year induce stable seat capacity. On the other hand, climate profiles and institutional factors are key factors of peaks. Aviation seasonality has impacts for airport funders and managers, regional development and scholars.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:ulb:ulbeco:2013/341140
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Jiaoe Wang & Fan Xiao & Frédéric Dobruszkes & Wei Wang, 2023. "Seasonality of flights in China: Spatial heterogeneity and its determinants," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/355192, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    3. Wang, Jiaoe & Xiao, Fan & Dobruszkes, Frédéric & Wang, Wei, 2023. "Seasonality of flights in China: Spatial heterogeneity and its determinants," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    4. Chen, Yu & Lu, Yuqi & Jin, Cheng, 2024. "Spatiotemporal differentiation calendar for car and truck flow on expressways: A case study of Jiangsu, China," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    5. Chen, Yuting & Fuellhart, Kurt & Grubesic, Tony H. & Zhang, Shengrun & Witlox, Frank, 2024. "An analysis of the context factors influencing the diverse response of airports to COVID-19 using panel and group regression," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    6. Burns, Porter & Bowen, John, 2024. "Global network structure and emissions implications of long-thin airline routes," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    7. Alessandro V. M. Oliveira, 2024. "The seasonality of air ticket prices before and after the pandemic," Papers 2402.13789, arXiv.org.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Air services; Aviation seasonality; Spatial patterns of seasonality; Temporal patterns;
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