Exploratory and confirmatory analysis to identify airports and airlines characteristics as factors influencing domestic passenger traffic in Nigeria

Abstract

Passenger traffic at airports is characterised by fluctuations resulting from the influence of several factors. The influence of each factor is different, leading to unpredictable passenger traffic patterns that make planning difficult. Previous studies used geographic, demographic, and economic variables as exploratory factors to examine air travel demand. The study explores several variables to confirm airports and airlines’ characteristics as demand factors for domestic air travel in Nigeria. Data for the study were collected by administering a questionnaire to respondents at major domestic airports in Nigeria. The variables were presented in the 5-point Likert Scale for respondents to rank in order of significance. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA) were employed to identify the significant factors affecting passenger traffic at domestic airports in Nigeria. EFA reduced fifteen variables to four orthogonal factors influencing passenger traffic at domestic airports. CFA validates airport and airline services, demographics, economic factors, and airport size and facilities as significant factors affecting passenger traffic at domestic airports in Nigeria. The model fit test shows CMIN/DF = 2.263; CFI = 0.940; GFI = 0.929; NFI = 0.901; and RMSEA = 0.078. The result identifies airport and airline characteristics as factors influencing passenger traffic at the domestic airport in any country. It implies that airport and airline characteristics significantly influence domestic air traffic and needs to be included in modelling. Identifying airport and airline characteristics as air travel determinants make this study unique for policy decisions to forecast domestic passenger traffic in a country.