Journal of Air Transport Management最新文献

In events of local war or highly infectious epidemics, airports face the problem of how to park numerous non-missioned aircraft on aprons. In this study, the apron planning problem in emergency situations (APPES) was considered to replan existing parking stands and taxiways, thus determining the numbers and locations of different aircraft types. A mixed-integer programming formulation for the APPES was developed to maximise the total revenue for the apron, where the aircraft was planned to be parked based on factors such as the safety distance and aircraft taxiing method. A two-stage approach based on the discrete particle swarm optimisation algorithm and bottom-left algorithm was designed to solve the APPES. Random instances of different sizes were generated, and the experimental results demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed approach. The two-stage approach could find optimal solutions to the APPES for 19 of the 20 small instances and could well approximate optimal solutions for the medium and large instances within a reasonable timeframe. Parking priority factor and aircraft taxiing methods sensitivity analyses were also designed to develop a strategy that can adhere to the preferences of decision makers or increase the total revenue.

The volume of international air cargo not only generates income and jobs for countries, but also promotes international trade and other economic sectors. This study used SARIMAX-(E)GARCH volatility models to model Singapore's air cargo volume in ten key markets namely Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, United Kingdom (UK), France and Germany. Using socioeconomic factors and monthly data for the period 1991–2022, empirical models reveal that GDP and bilateral trade are important explanatory factors that have a positive impact on international air cargo volume in most of Singapore's key markets. Own price (international air freight), substitute price (deep sea freight transportation services) and the COVID-19 pandemic in the early stages also have different impacts in some key markets. In addition, the effects of positive and negative air cargo demand shocks are also found in different markets. These findings are the basis for forecasting international air cargo volume and making decisions and policies for air freight development.

In the highly competitive and cost-sensitive realm of low-cost carriers, ancillary services have emerged as a pivotal revenue source, supplementing the basic fare with optional extras that enhance the passenger experience. This research propels this concept forward by introducing a sophisticated Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model specifically designed to optimise revenue from seat change fees, a key ancillary service. Our model is particularly crucial for low-cost carriers, where the natural decomposition of pricing strategies allows passengers to pay for a basic service, with the option to enhance their flying experience through additional paid services. The model introduces a novel approach to encourage seat changes, particularly for passengers booked together under the same reservation. The core strategy to promote seat changes involves maximising the seating distance between passengers who opt for the automatic seat selection feature, based on the current aircraft configuration. By intentionally allocating these passengers the furthest seats apart, the model creates a natural incentive for them to pay for seat changes, aiming to sit closer together. This approach not only generates additional revenue through seat change fees but also optimises the utilization of seat inventory by encouraging the purchase of premium seat options. To address the inherent unpredictability of seat sales, the model strategically reserves premium seats and places passengers less inclined towards seat changes in less desirable locations. This ensures an optimised allocation of seats that maximises revenue potential. Incorporating computational acceleration techniques, the model is designed for real-time application, allowing airlines to dynamically adapt to booking changes and maximise ancillary revenue opportunities. This rapid response capability empowers airlines to adapt swiftly to changing dynamics in seat bookings, thereby maximising their revenue generation potential. By offering a sophisticated tool for increasing profits from passenger accommodation services, this research bridges an essential gap in existing airline industry strategies, proposing a transformative approach to ancillary service optimisation.

Airline partnerships with coordinated scheduling of air transport services such as alliances and joint ventures are a significant feature of the global airline industry. All advanced airline partnerships are rooted in codesharing. Therefore, we examine codeshare relations between the world's 50 largest airlines with hierarchical clustering using flight schedules data to detect airline partnership clusters of different sizes independently of memberships in global alliances. Our analysis confirms that the closest collaboration occurs within global alliances. There are also airline partnerships with extensive codesharing between aligned and non-aligned carriers, but not between airlines of different global alliances. Star Alliance appears to be the least tightly coupled global alliance, oneworld the most inclusive.

The purpose of this study was to determine factors that influence a consumer's Willingness to Fly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous studies have explored Willingness to Fly in various situations, but none have used perceived stress and COVID-19 predictors. Six hundred and fifteen participants from the United States completed a survey on the platform MTurk in 2022. Validated scales were used to gather data on the selected parameters, namely the Cohen Perceived Stress Scale, Familiarity with Aviation Scale, Perceived COVID-19 threat scale, and Willingness to Fly scale. Exploratory Factor Analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis, and Structural Equation Modeling were used to explore the data. Three of the six hypotheses were supported. One additional non-hypothesized path was discovered between perceived stress and COVID-19 threat. The model explained 50.7% of Willingness to Fly. The findings offer insight into how consumers still identify COVID-19 as a present threat despite the aviation industry's safeguards.

This paper examines the complexities of incentive regulation in the context of airport privatization, asymmetric information, and regulatory weakness in a developing country. Using hybrid Dual-Till revenue cap variations of thirty-four concessioned airports in Mexico for the period 2006–2019, we distinguish within and between regulated period effects on productive efficiency. Our findings reveal a dual nature of variations: negative shifts within regulated periods are linked to heightened productive efficiency, whereas positive shifts between regulated periods, particularly during the resetting of caps, arise when projected demand falls short of covering allowed operational and capital expenditures. This discrepancy leads to a decline in productive efficiency. The analysis highlights discernible weaknesses in the regulatory framework such as homogenous expectations of efficiency gains across all airports within regulated periods. Furthermore, strategic behavior by airports emerges, as they opt to defer efficiency enhancements to the initial year of any given regulated period. We discuss regulatory levers to improve the quality of regulation.

This paper explores the impact of providing carbon footprint information on long-haul international air travel demand. By combining the doubly randomized preference trial (DRPT) and randomized conjoint experiment, the paper examines how targeted information influences consumers’ purchasing decisions. The primary data is obtained from an online survey conducted in Japan with 3261 respondents. The results show that providing carbon footprint information significantly affects consumers’ choices, particularly those with higher environmental awareness. The provision of carbon footprint information increases the purchasing probability of environmentally conscious consumers by 12.3% over mileage accrual rate information. Moreover, when carbon emissions increase by 50%, respondents with higher environmental concerns are 17% less likely to make a purchase compared to those who do not prioritize environmental factors. This study holds implications for designing effective environmental awareness campaigns in the transport sector to encourage sustainable consumer choices.

Airport service quality (ASQ) is essential for determining the quality of ground civil aviation services. In this study, ASQ was assessed using the monthly airport aviation complaint data from 2015 to 2019 of 196 airports in mainland China (except for airports in Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, which are not included in the statistics). First, we constructed a seasonal index of aviation complaints to evaluate and compare the overall temporal characteristics of ASQ in China. Second, the spatial distribution pattern of ASQ in China was determined using the aviation complaint concentration index and hot spot analysis model. Finally, the major influencing factors and categories of ASQ in China were analyzed considering spatiotemporal dimensions using the correspondence analysis method. The results revealed that there were clear seasonal differences among ASQ in China, with a high–low–low–high distribution during all four seasons. The regional agglomeration trend of airport aviation complaints was obvious, and the spatial difference in ASQ was large. Northern and western China performed better than southern China. Spatiotemporal and influencing factors of ASQ were the most strongly correlated factors in each quarter and region. The predominant source of aviation complaints across all types of airports is related to fundamental services, with check-in services identified as the most impactful category affecting ASQ. This study, based on 60 months of statistical data, offers a comprehensive evaluation of ASQ throughout the entire airport network in mainland China, from the perspective of aviation complaints. Additionally, a systematic ASQ evaluation method and research system encompassing time, space, and elements were established. This framework not only stimulates the improvement and enhancement of ASQ but also provides a theoretical foundation for differentially enhancing ASQ in regional airports. Overall, our results contribute to breaking through the qualitative research thinking system in ASQ research from a theoretical perspective, paving the way for exploring broader research in enhancing the quality of ground civil aviation services.

Since the retirement of the Concorde in 2003 no commercial supersonic flights were operated. In 2014 the aircraft manufacturing start-up Boom announced the development of a supersonic aircraft by 2029 and has since gathered 130 orders. This paper analyzes the profitability of this aircraft by calculating the net present value of an investment decision and comparing this to a subsonic aircraft. It is determined that supersonic travel has 50% higher cash operating costs per seat. This implies that, for example, a return flight LHR-JFK merely breaks even at a WACC of 6%. The central question of this paper is whether this cost premium can be covered by a price premium paid for the time saved on a supersonic flight. A schedule analysis shows that this price premium is justified on westbound but not on eastbound flights. Thus, a westward rotation of the supersonic fleet is proposed. To avoid seat imbalances this network can be supplemented by an eastward rotating subsonic narrowbody fleet in an all-business configuration. Whereas a supersonic rotation A - B - A only breaks even with a net present value close to zero, a westward supersonic rotation A - B - C - A complemented by a subsonic rotation A - C - B - A achieves a significant profit reflected in a net present value of over $ 40 mill. per aircraft. It follows that this network structure is the only profitable one.

As a by-product it is reconstructed that the Concorde was marginally cash-positive, explaining why operations was kept up for 27 years but no aircraft were ordered after the initial batch.

Supporting the pathway to net zero carbon emissions in the aviation industry, sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) will contribute to a large extent to reduce net CO₂ emissions in the next decades to deliver on climate targets. For this reason, the large-scale uptake of SAFs in aviation is on top of the agenda of regulatory policy. However, challenges remain for building the respective infrastructure and supply chains at the appropriate scale to produce and distribute SAF at a reasonable cost. Currently, only one percent of fuels consumed by airlines in Europe are blended with sustainable aviation fuels. The paper examines current SAF production pathways, environmental benefits, and estimated fuel prices from the state-of-the art literature. Further, regulatory policies established by governments, regulatory agencies and industry associations are examined, regarding blending mandates in different regional markets. The authors conclude with the statistical analysis of minimum selling prices for different types of SAF, and discuss their respective availability.