Do rail stations at airports allow a better distribution of passenger demand among airports

Abstract

The paper presents the results of a study on the effects of rail stations (and High-Speed Rail) at air- ports on the route and hubbing patterns of airlines. Background for the work is Action COST-318 (1), chaired by IVT. EU-liberalisation, fierce competition, cost-cutting, hubbing of major European airlines at their home base, increased airport catchment areas by existing (high-speed) rail access at most of the major European airports, leads to air traffic congestion, whereas a number of other (medium-sized) airports are under-utilised. In the future, saturation of demand and fading trust trough repeated and unpredictable delays in air transport could emerge. Moreover, most of the European airports cannot be extended due to encroaching urbanisation and noise and air pollution concerns. In this situation, the idea arises, at least where the catchment areas of several airports overlap, in par- ticular when airport (high-speed) rail access is provided, that users could shift to other, less crowded airports. This process has not been observed so far. The issue was therefore studied using expert interviews based on the Delphi method (statement of personal convictions in several rounds, after having read the arguments put forward by the other experts during the round before). Answers to the issue involve, among other things, the future of: Air traffic concentration and hubbing Improved technologies to cope with airport congestion Cost-effectiveness of hubs (considering also delays) People’s reaction regarding noise and air pollution Hub-by-pass development Airport choice by air travellers just as airline choice Rail stations at airports: a new way of distribution of air passenger transport demand at (medium-sized) under-utilised airports