Air Passenger Research Articles

Evaluation of the effect of airplanes on the environment on the example of Boeing 747 and Boeing 757

The object of research is the impact of airplanes on the environment. Aviation is an area of our life that has been developing faster and faster every year for more than a century. Accordingly, aircraft have a negative impact on the surrounding natural environment, and therefore the assessment of their impact on nature and people is an important and integral component of research in the field of ecology and sustainable development. In particular, the airplanes produced by Boeing are among those that are most widely used in both passenger and cargo air transportation, so a study was conducted on their example. In the study, calculation methods were used to estimate the load on the surrounding natural environment from the operation of Boeing 747 and Boeing 757 aircraft, based on the declared characteristics of emissions from the engines of these aircraft. The study shows that every aircraft has a certain negative impact on the environment due to the emission of pollutants during all phases of flight. However, there are opportunities to minimize this impact by implementing more complete fuel combustion, replacing standard fuels such as aviation kerosene with more modern fuels, reducing the weight of the aircraft, which will lead to lower fuel consumption and, accordingly, lower emissions into the atmosphere. Also effective is the introduction of technologies to reduce the noise load from the operation of aircraft, such as the introduction of noise-protective coverings of runways, new materials for the production of aircraft engines, as well as changing the design of engines and the use of double-circuit scheme. The work assessed the impact of aircraft on the environment and the effectiveness of environmental protection measures using the example of the operation of Boeing 747 and Boeing 757 aircraft, and developed proposals for the implementation of environmental protection and technical measures to reduce this impact.

Influence of Air Travelers’ Willingness to Pay for Carbon Offset Based on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling

With air passengers as research objects, this study adopted partial least squares structural equation modeling method to build a model and analyzed passengers’ willingness to purchase carbon offsets and its influencing factors. According to the results, the effects of factors such as carbon environment, travel environment, and participation motivation are significantly positive on air passengers’ attitudes toward emission reduction. As a mediating variable, emission reduction attitude has a significant and positive influence on air passengers’ willingness to purchase carbon offsets. Psychological variables have a notable influence on individuals’ willingness to pay for carbon offsets. Besides, socio-economic attributes do not have any significant influence on passengers’ willingness to pay. To build a sustainable and voluntary carbon offset mechanism in the aviation industry, we need to raise air passengers’ low-carbon awareness by launching various carbon offset programs, and expand air passengers’ knowledge about carbon emissions. This study provides valuable insights into the pricing strategy of Chinese airlines.

The Impact of Digitalization on Air Traffic Evolution and Measures of Reducing CO2 Emissions

Abstract In the past couple of decades, the field of digitalization has grown in popularity. Given the substantial amount of research supporting its significance, it can be stated that this phenomenon manages to make its presence felt in any field at the moment, including the air traffic sector. The discussed effects may be seen in almost every element of air transport, whether it is the performance of the aircraft or the passengers' experience from the moment of ticket purchase to the completion of the flight. Between 2009 and 2019, air passenger revenue worldwide increased by 63%, from 374 billion $ to 612 billion $. Before COVID-19, air travel increased significantly. As part of the fourth industrial revolution, the digital transformation manages to change organizational paradigms and working practices while improving performance. Having this in mind, we aimed to identify the impact of digitalization in air flights domain, and what measures could be applied to reduce CO2 emissions. A bibliometric study of the previously conducted research in the area was performed using the Biblioshiny library, based on a set of extracted articles pertinent to the effects of digitalization on the aviation field. The viewpoints of this research emphasise the benefits of digital transformation and highlight the necessity of digitalization in all industries, particularly air traffic.

The Effect of Service Quality and Sustainability Practices on Brand Equity: The Case of Korean Air Passengers

The Effect of Service Quality and Sustainability Practices on Brand Equity: The Case of Korean Air Passengers

Risk evaluation of respiratory droplet dispersion in high-speed train compartments with different air circulation systems

Ongoing respiratory epidemics are raising health concerns in public transportation environments, especially in densely populated train compartments. While air circulation systems inside these compartments play a crucial role in controlling the risk of droplets carrying pathogens, the mechanisms and strategies have rarely been investigated. This study employs computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to investigate the impacts on droplet dispersion and exposure risk within passenger compartments under two prevalent air circulation modes: centralized return-centralized exhaust (CR-CE) and distributed return-centralized exhaust (DR-CE), as well as a newly proposed mode, distributed return-distributed exhaust (DR-DE). Additionally, other key influential factors, including the release source location and the respiratory jet speed, are also considered. The results indicate that the CR-CE mode exacerbates the longitudinal airflow in the passenger compartment, thereby increasing the distance of droplet transmission. In contrast, the DR-CE mode moderately restricts the range of droplet spread to a certain extent. When the release source is in the middle of the compartment, the average distance of droplet transmission can be reduced by about 30%. The proposed DR-DE mode further confines the behavior of droplet dispersion, significantly lowering the overall exposure risk for passengers. Furthermore, the results show that sneezing, compared to speaking, results in a decrease in the exposure risk peak among passengers, from approximately 95% to around 70%. The passengers in the four rows directly in front of the release source face a relatively high potential risk. These findings provide valuable insights for improving air quality and passenger safety in public transportation vehicles.

Factors influencing air passengers' intention to purchase voluntary carbon offsetting programs: The moderating role of environmental knowledge

BackgroundThis paper aims to investigate the factors that influence air passengers' intention to purchase the VCO program by applying the extended Theory of Planned Behavior. Furthermore, we examine how the influence of these factors on purchasing intention varies according to passengers' levels of environmental knowledge. MethodsWe surveyed 319 individuals in Korea who have had air travel experience within the past three years and are planning future air travel. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 and AMOS 25.0. To verify validity and reliability, we conducted confirmatory factor analysis and reliability analysis. Hypotheses were tested using a structural equation model, and the moderating effect of environmental knowledge was verified through multi-group analysis. FindingsOur findings revealed that personal norms, subjective norms, attitudes, and perceived behavioral control influence customers' intentions to purchase VCO program, in that order. Additionally, a critical aspect of our research is the multigroup analysis that demonstrates how environmental knowledge moderates the effects of attitudes and personal norms on purchase intentions. This indicates that the level of environmental awareness significantly shapes the decision-making process for participating in VCO program. Our study provides valuable insights for developing effective communication strategies to promote VCO program, emphasizing the need for tailored approaches based on individuals’ environmental knowledge. OriginalityThis study is the first to analyze the intention to purchase voluntary carbon offset (VCO) program among Korean passengers. We conducted a comprehensive analysis based on the extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and investigated how the relative influence of each factor varies depending on the level of environmental knowledge.

Unraveling Extreme Weather Impacts on Air Transportation and Passenger Delays Using Location-Based Data

Unraveling Extreme Weather Impacts on Air Transportation and Passenger Delays Using Location-Based Data

A hybrid forecasting architecture for air passenger demand considering search engine data and spatial effect

As the global process of digitalization accelerates and breakthroughs in internet technology emerge, governments worldwide are advocating for data-driven decision-making, aiming to enhance public service efficiency and stimulate economic growth. Against this backdrop, this study focuses on utilizing search engine data (SED) to improve air passenger demand forecasting, responding to national policies aimed at enhancing data analysis capabilities and promoting the development of intelligent transportation systems; however, the existing research is confined to the exploration of the temporal dependency between SED and air passenger demand variables with ignoring the spatial dependency. In order to eliminate this blind spot and catch from various parts of tourist attention, this study proposes a novel SED-driven hybrid forecasting architecture inspired by the theory of spatial effect between adjacent tourist destinations. The architecture includes three main steps: (1) construction of spatial-temporal SED variables, based on two-stage data preprocessing method; (2) variable decomposition and reconstruction, based on TVF-EMD algorithm; (3) prediction of different components of air passenger demand, employed ARIMA model and IHGS-KELM based multi-model fusion strategy respectively, where the IHGS algorithm integrates the circle chaos initialization strategy and the nonlinear convergence factor strategy. To confirm the practical applicability of this hybrid architecture, five comparative experiments based on the actual dataset are designed. The principal results are concluded as follows: (1) spatial-temporal SED is conducive to a fairly accurate air passenger demand forecasting; (2) the multi-model fusion strategy can integrate the fortes of various types of prediction models to obtain better prediction accuracy; (3) the adaptive ensemble method based on IHGS-KELM can contribute to the upgradation of prediction performance of air passenger demand.

Does environmental knowledge and performance engender environmental behavior at airports? A moderated mediation effect

PurposeDrawing on the reasoned action theory, this study aims to examine the impact of environmental knowledge (EK) and environmental sustainability performance (EP) on environmental behavior (EB) mediated by environmental attitude (ATT). Furthermore, to examine the moderating effect of environmental advertising (ADD) on the indirect relationship between EP and EB, mediated by ATT on the one hand, and EK on EB, on the other hand, mediated by ATT.Design/methodology/approachThe data were gathered within an international context for passengers from North African countries (NAC) (Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Morocco and Sudan) using primary quantitative data from online and self-administered questionnaires. A total of 1,052 questionnaires were collected from passengers who traveled through Egyptian airports. The collected data were analyzed through covariance-based structural equation modeling.FindingsThe findings indicated that ATT moderates the relationship between environmental knowledge and behavior. In addition, ATT mediates the airports' environmental behavior and environmental sustainability performance. Moreover, ADD moderates the indirect association between EP and individuals' environmental knowledge and behavior through the mediated effect of ATT.Research limitations/implicationsThis research output will help extend the theory’s scope by conceptualizing its abstract ideas using research variables and applying them in NAC countries. This can be a milestone for altering individuals' behavior toward the environment in airports.Practical implicationsThis study aims to assist airport authorities in the development of standards for enhancing environmental performance. Enhancing environmental issues is of utmost importance, especially in the context of airports, which have been a subject of significant environmental concern. This study examined the environmental practices of airport passengers in NAC, given their significant role as the primary source of greenhouse gas emissions on the African continent. The present approach has the potential to be utilized in modifying airport conduct and enhancing stakeholder engagement, specifically within the context of NAC.Social implicationsThe objective of this study is to enhance the relationship between nature and humans by endeavoring to modify human attitudes toward the environment. The objective of this initiative is to bridge the current disparity in the socio-environmental connection by fostering environmental consciousness among individuals who utilize airport facilities. The objective will be accomplished by the construction of a theoretical framework that integrates crucial elements acknowledged for their substantial influence on altering human attitudes, thus fostering a greater sense of environmental consciousness and ultimately improving societal well-being.Originality/valueSince the global supply chain prioritizes environmental transportation systems, this study provides a conceptual framework for airport authorities to develop and create policies to push air passengers' behavior toward environmental practices in NAC.

Theoretical aspects of strategic development subjects of the air transport industry

The methodological principles of studying systemic, strategic interactions of subjects in the air transport industry in conditions of global challenges are not just considered but emphasized for their crucial role in understanding and navigating the complexities of the industry. Peculiarities of the interaction between airlines and airports are determined, which is related to the specifics of the organizational and management support of this process, which include instability and dynamism of the air transportation market, significant degree of differentiation of air transport services by macro-regions; high level of competition between air carriers and significant market fluctuations; low competition among airports; multivariate combination and comprehensive use of the potential and competences of airlines and airports in the performance of passenger and cargo air transportation. The article substantiates the peculiarities of the interaction of the air transport industry entities related to the specifics of organizational and managerial support of this process. The functions, works, and services performed by the enterprises of the air transport industry in the interaction process and the functional division of the main activities by the responsibility of the performers - airlines and airports - are systematized. A methodical approach to the study of strategic interaction of air transport industry entities in the context of global challenges is proposed, consisting of a logical sequence of the following stages: analysis and evaluation of functional characteristics and competencies of airlines and airports; analysis of environmental factors; assessment of problems and advantages of strategic interaction of airlines and airports; substantiation of strategic principles of interaction between airlines and airports; study of strategic alternatives and decision-making. The advantage of the proposed approach is that it considers the specific features of organizational and managerial support for the interaction of industry players. The most acute problems of the strategic development of the air transport industry of Ukraine and promising areas of interaction between air carriers and airports in the context of global challenges are not just identified but highlighted to keep the audience informed and aware of the current state of the industry. Keywords: air transport industry, air carriers, airports, airlines, strategy, a system of interaction, systemic, strategic interaction, strategic development, global challenges.

Pemilihan Moda Transportasi Udara Terhadap Frekuensi Penggunaan Transportasi Udara Bandara Matahora

This research aimed to determine the characteristics of users of transportation modes and to find out the frequency of using air transportation at Matahora Airport. The research method used was quantitative with a descriptive approach, which involved depicting and explaining in detail the issues studied based on the data collected in the field. The data collection technique in this research used a questionnaire, where respondents were asked to answer a number of questions about the characteristics and factors influencing the choice of air transportation. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive data analysis to explain the data obtained through a questionnaire. The research results indicated that the characteristics of mode selection for transportation were based on reasons influencing the selection of modes from a total of 60 respondents. The analysis of the characteristics of air passenger travelers showed the largest percentage in the male gender at 68%, age between 36-45 years at 41%, the highest education level being a bachelor's degree at 62%, self-employed occupation at 36%, the reason for using air transportation being faster travel time at 93%, and the influence of mode selection on the frequency of air transportation use simultaneously at 33.4%. Partially, the factors influencing the choice of air transportation mode on frequency were cost at 26.1%, security at 12.1%, and comfort at 9.1%.

Aeronautical Infrastructure Optimization to Enhance the Strategic and Operational Business Performance of Small Airports

Airport business management literature commonly evaluates the performance of these organizations based on the number of passengers and cargo processed, aircraft movements, number of runways, number of employees, and passengers’ terminal dimension, among other factors concerning commercial aviation, commonly applied to large structures, with gaps being identified in the literature of small airports. The identification and analysis of the main factors that interfere with the performance of airport business, and the strategic and operational management of small public airports have been analyzed from 24 small Brazilian airports. The study employed the Data Envelopment Analysis method based on the Charnes, Cooper, and Rhodes model, as well as the Banker, Charnes, and Cooper model, adapted for Visual Basic Analysis. The main results demonstrate that infrastructural characteristics, such as runway width, pavement classification number, runway length, buldings' age, maximum take-off weight of the critical aircraft, passenger terminal size, and air cargo and passengers processed, show significant relevance to the operational performance of small airports. The main theoretical implications of the study are the definition of strategic and operational parameters that impact the performance of small airports, which can be used as a reference by air transport decision-makers.

International mobility between the UK and Europe around Brexit: a data-driven study

Among the multiple effects of Brexit, changes in migration and mobility across Europe were expected. Several studies have analysed these aspects, mostly from the point of view of perceptions, motivations, economic effects, scenarios, and changes in migration from Central and Eastern European countries. In this study we propose an analysis of migration and cross-border mobility using an integrated data-driven approach. We investigate official statistics from Eurostat, together with non-traditional data, to give a more complete view of the changes after Brexit, at EU and regional level. Specifically, we employ scientific publication and Crunchbase data to study highly-skilled migration, Twitter and Air Passenger data to investigate monthly trends. While main trends are preserved across datasets, with a general decrease in migration towards the UK immediately after the referendum approval, we are able to also observe more fine grained trends specific to some data or regions. Furthermore, we relate the changes in mobility observed from Air Passenger data with attention to Brexit from Google Trends data.

Legal bases of the information policy regarding the protection of the rights of air passengers

The article is devoted to the justification of the need to unify the national legislation of Ukraine with the acts of the European Union in the field of human rights, in particular, the rights of air passengers. The article summarizes the analysis of the effectiveness of existing legal acts and mechanisms aimed at ensuring a high level of protection of the rights and safety of air passengers in specific situations. It is claimed that Ukraine undertakes to bring national legislation in the field of air passenger rights protection into full compliance with EU acts, despite the biggest challenge on the way to building democracy in Ukraine - the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation and the closure of Ukrainian airspace for today. The development of legal mechanisms to protect the rights of air passengers is determined not only by the desire to ensure their safety during travel, but also contributes to the development of the aviation industry in general. The need to pay attention to the protection of the rights of air passengers in the process of implementation of EU acts is emphasized, since human rights standards require proper study and implementation for the effective use of common air space, restoration of air navigation infrastructure. The main attention is focused on the peculiarities of the harmonization of national and European standards, which requires significant efforts and a large number of measures on the part of the state, in particular, the proper implementation of EU acts regarding the rights of air passengers and the protection of consumer rights. Next steps regarding further obligations of Ukraine were also analyzed. Increasing attention to the protection of the rights of air passengers is of practical importance for increasing the effectiveness of cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in the field of human rights and creating a modern legal framework for aviation regulations regarding the rights of air passengers in the country. Tasks that need to be completed for the successful integration of Ukraine into the common aviation space of the EU are highlighted. The experience of law enforcement for the protection of the rights of EU air passengers will contribute to the restoration of our state’s capabilities for the safety of civil aviation flights. Conducting research in this direction is a relevant and necessary scientific search.

A Novel Method for Modeling and Predicting Transportation Data Via Multideep Assessment Methodology and Fractional Calculus

Abstract Aviation is one of the most global industries, and if we can model and predict a country’s air transportation flow and indicators ahead of time, we may be able to use it as a key decision-making tool for the management and operation process. This study proposes a new modeling, and prediction method that employs both fractional calculus and Multi Deep Assessment Methodology (MDAM) techniques. For the application, air passengers carried, air freight, available seat kilometers, number of flights, destination points, international travelers, international destination points, and international flight data between 2011 and 2019 for eight countries with the busiest airports were chosen. As a result, the highest modeling error was discovered to be Germany’s air transport freight factor expressed as a percentage of 1,59E-02. The percentage of predictions with errors less than 10% was 90.278. We also compared the performance of two different MDAM methodologies. The novel MDAM wd methodology proposed in this paper has a higher accuracy in aviation factors prediction and modeling.

ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT PROBLEMS OF PASSENGER AIR TRANSPORT DEVELOPMENT IN UKRAINE IN WARTIME CONDITIONS

The subject of the study is the impact of the full-scale military invasion and aggression of the Russian Federation on passenger air transportation in Ukraine. Passenger air transportation in Ukraine has been seriously challenged by the full-scale military invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, accompanied by changes in infrastructure and passenger demand. The research’s relevance lies in determining strategic ways of solving problems caused by the state of war. The aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine led to significant disturbances in the field of passenger air transportation. The destruction of infrastructure, changes in passenger demand, and challenges for the aviation industry create a need for a systemic analysis and determination of ways out of this complex situation. The research aims to deeply analyse modern problems and determine the prospects for developing passenger air transportation in wartime conditions and post-war reconstruction. The authors aim to develop practical recommendations for optimising the sector and maintaining its sustainability. Objectives of the study include examining the consequences of military aggression on aviation infrastructure and analysing changes in the structure of demand; identifying the challenges that arise for air carriers and other industry participants in martial law; exploring adaptation strategies for passenger aviation and determining ways out of the crisis; assessing the necessity and effectiveness of measures to restore and support passenger air transport. To achieve the goal, the authors used a comprehensive approach that includes assessing the state of the infrastructure and applying quantitative research methods. As a result, the authors determined the impact of military aggression on aviation infrastructure, analysed changes in passenger demand, and identified challenges for the aviation industry. The study reveals the possibilities of adaptation and strategies for exiting the crisis. Based on the analysis, the authors conclude the need for urgent measures to restore and support passenger air transportation within the framework of post-war reconstruction. Recommendations include strategies for infrastructure modernisation, financial support for airlines, and the creation of conditions for international cooperation. The active role of the state in solving these issues is also vital to achieving sustainable development of the aviation sector. Keywords: aviation sector, passenger air transportation, martial law, aviation infrastructure modernisation strategies.

Functional and technological concepts of airports (past and present)

The article discusses the impact of security factors, economic and social conditions of public life, and the development of technology, which leads to many changes in the functional and technological schemes of air passenger services. This, in turn, affects the planning and volumetric-spatial solutions of airport terminals and changes in the organization of airport master plans. It is logical to assume that these changes are not the last, and there is a need to predict further possible solutions. But this is not possible without reviewing and systematizing the changes that have already taken place in the design and construction of airports. The article discusses several concepts of functional and planning passenger service, namely: The concept of runways in the form of a circle. The takeoff and landing of the first passenger airplanes depended heavily on wind speed and power. The airfield configuration in the form of a circle allowed solving this problem. Now this solution is outdated and not used. The concept of containerization of passenger transportation. An assumption was made about the construction of large-capacity passenger aircraft with up to 1000 passengers. Accordingly, it was proposed to first place passengers in specialized containers and then attach these containers to specialized aircraft to save time during handling. The concept remained futuristic due to the fact that passenger aircraft of this capacity are not produced, but it may happen in the future. The concept of urban airports. For the comfort of air passengers, it was proposed to build airports directly in the city. After a certain period of time, this concept was forced to be abandoned due to modern requirements and air traffic safety measures. The concept of centralized or decentralized air passenger service. The concept has been evolving throughout the history of airport construction. At the present stage, the concept of centralized service is more widespread, as it is the most comfortable and economically feasible. The concept of additional (non-transportation) passenger services. The commercial industry of air passenger services at the airport, in the form of shops, cafes, hotels, and much more, is now successfully developing. This allows airports to increase the level of comfort and affects the reduction of costs and lower prices for the transportation of each individual air passenger. The article notes that some concepts are outdated, some are too futuristic, some have ceased to exist due to inconsistencies with modern security measures, and some have stood the test of time and become dominant in modern airport design. Analysis, comprehension and summarization of the consequences of the introduction of certain functional and technological concepts of air passenger service leads to changes in the organization of airports. The process of scientific research of these phenomena is the key to the future life of airports and their efficient operation. This task is quite complex and requires a lot of studies, not only in the field of architecture and design, but also in sociology, economics, marketing, and management.

Civil aviation emissions in China in 2019: Characteristics and abatement potential

Civil aviation is one of the industries facing the greatest challenge in reaching carbon neutrality by the middle of this century, and this sector also contributes to adverse impacts on the regional air quality and human health. China exhibits the second highest air passenger turnover worldwide. Our understanding of civil aviation emissions must be urgently enhanced, and the mitigation potential should be explored. In this study, on the basis of real domestic flight information for 2019, we built a greenhouse gas and air pollution emission inventory for the civil aviation sector in China with the fuel flow method based on the cruise and other phases. We thoroughly analyzed emissions by region, aircraft and engine types, and aircraft age, based on which we designed four measures to evaluate the abatement potential. We found that the hydrocarbon (HC), CO, NOx, SO2, particulate matter (PM) and CO2 emissions in 2019 reached 79.9 kt (95% CI [51.6–114.5]), 176.3 kt (95% CI [114.5–248.2]), 304.2 kt (95% CI [203.4–420.7]), 23.2 kt (95% CI [14.2–33.7]), 1.0 kt (95% CI [0.61–1.44]) and 87.0 Mt (95% CI [57.4–119.6]), respectively. The cruise phase was the major emission phase, accounting for 67%-87% of the total pollutant emissions. If four measures were jointly implemented, the HC, CO, NOx, SO2, PM and CO2 emissions could be reduced by 61%, 54%, 55%, 45%, 32% and 38%, respectively. Utilizing lower-emission aircraft and switching travel modes could substantially reduce civil aviation emissions in China.

How to build a more sustainable passenger air transport system: multimodal experience

A fully integrated passenger multimodal system is a new concept in the transport industry, and consequently, data on system interoperability is lacking. In this paper, a qualitative research method is applied, to get the transport experts’ opinions and information on how the multimodal system should be designed. Although they are aware that the collaboration should result in an increase in the volume of passengers, the most challenging task is to convince transport operators to share the data with each other, due to legal issues. To determine the passengers’ perspective on making multimodal choices in their journeys, the travel demand model is developed, based on online survey data. The proposed (Binary Logistic Regression) model reveals the importance for policymakers and transport operators serving the airport to address access time reliability by carefully considering the passengers’ preferences in terms of their needs and age.

Accommodating spatio-temporal dependency in airline demand modeling

The objective of the current study is to examine monthly air passenger departures at the airport level considering spatial interactions between airports. In this study, we develop a novel spatial grouped generalized ordered probit (SGGOP) model system of monthly air passenger departures at the airport level. Specifically, we estimate two variants of spatial models including spatial lag model and spatial error model. In the presence of repeated demand measures for the airports, we also consider temporal variations of spatial correlation effects among proximally located airports by employing space and time-based weight matrix. The proposed model is estimated using monthly air passenger departures for five years for 369 airports across the US. The proposed spatial model is implemented using composite marginal likelihood (CML) approach that offers a computationally feasible framework. From the estimation results, it is evident that air passenger departures at the airport level are influenced by different factors including MSA specific demographic characteristics, built environment characteristics, airport specific factors, spatial factors, and temporal factors. Moreover, spatial autocorrelation parameter is found to be significant validating our hypothesis of the presence of common unobserved factors associated with the spatial unit of analysis. In this study, we also perform a validation analysis to examine the predictive performance of the proposed spatial models. The results highlight the superiority of spatial error model compared to spatial lag model and the independent model that ignores the spatial interactions. Finally, we undertake an elasticity analysis to quantify the impact of the independent variables.