Evolution and Determinants of an Air Transport Network: A Case Study of the Chinese Main Air Transport Network

Min Su,Weixin Luan,Zeyang Li,Shulin Wan,Zhenchao Zhang

doi:10.3390/su11143933

Abstract

The Chinese main air transport network (CMATN) is the framework for air passenger transport in the country. This study uses complex networks and an econometric model to analyze CMATN’s evolution and determinants. In terms of overall network structure, the network has always shown small-world properties, with smaller average path lengths (2.06–2.15) and larger clustering coefficients (0.68–0.77), while its cumulative degree distribution follows an exponential function. City passenger volumes conform to the degree power law function, which means that the more destinations a city connects to, the higher its passenger traffic will be. In major hub cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, control power decreases, while Chengdu, Kunming, Chongqing, Xi’an, Urumqi, and other cities play an increasingly important role in CMATN. In terms of main route passenger volumes and formation, increases in GDP and tourism have had a promoting effect, while high-speed rail (HSR) poses a threat to overlapping routes. CMATN is primarily located in the central and eastern regions, focusing on China’s economy, tourism, and efficient HSR development. Although the competition from HSR affects the overall network structure of CMATN based on its influence on specific routes, we believe that the impact is limited due to the different transport attributes of the two networks. The research results of this study can become an information source for decision makers and provide a reference for air transport to seek sustainable development.

Highlights

The development of complex network theory has led to many studies being published in the traffic field [1], including research on the network structure of high-speed passenger transport systems, such as high-speed rail [2,3] and air transport [4,5,6,7,8,9,10]
In order to examine the evolution and determinants of the air transport network, this study considers the case of Chinese main air transport network (CMATN) and analyzes CMATN’s evolution from the point of view of overall network structure and centrality from 2007 to 2016
We analyze the current situation of CMATN using original data, and the overall network structure and centrality of CMATN using the complex network approach

Summary

Introduction

The development of complex network theory has led to many studies being published in the traffic field [1], including research on the network structure of high-speed passenger transport systems, such as high-speed rail [2,3] and air transport [4,5,6,7,8,9,10]. Some studies considered socio-economic factors when analyzing the evolution and properties of air transport networks. Based on the calculation of clustering coefficients, average path length, and centrality and degree distribution, extant studies measure the topological structure of air transport networks. They analyze the effect of socio-economic factors on cities’ centrality. This study addresses a gap in the literature and analyzes the impact of tourism and outside competition from high speed rail (HSR) on the evolution of air transport networks. Examining the Chinese main air transport network (CMATN) allows us the possibility to fill this gap in the literature and provides a reference for the sustainable development of civil aviation

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Conclusion