Secondary Airports Research Articles

Selection of Secondary Hub Airport Location Based on Connectivity and Green Airport Solutions

Selection of Secondary Hub Airport Location Based on Connectivity and Green Airport Solutions

Roles of accessibility and air-rail intermodality in shaping mobility patterns in mega-city regions: Behavioural insights from China

This paper aims to understand mobility patterns in mega-city regions from perspectives of accessibility and air-rail intermodality. Travellers' preferences for intercity mode and its access and egress modes were simultaneously collected in the context of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei mega-city region. The accessibility of transport hubs and destinations was measured to enable interpreting mobility behaviour in three dimensions, i.e., travel mode decisions, departure transport hub decisions, and transport service decisions. The calibrated behavioural model highlights a series of determinants regarding level-of-service attributes, travel characteristics, accessibility, socio-demographics, and their interaction. Based on the behavioural insights, twenty domestic cities were selected as destinations for analysing the dynamics of mobility patterns in terms of the competition within the multi-airport system and air-rail cooperation potential in the long-haul market. The elasticity of shifts in transport demand between the primary and secondary airports in the Beijing multi-airport system was assessed under various pricing strategies, highlighting the vital role of the most accessible airport in air traveller decision-making. Moreover, the results underline the effect of air-rail intermodal service upgrades, e.g., offering baggage handling systems and flexible tickets, on stimulating air-rail intermodal mobility in the mega-city region.

Competitive integrated airline schedule design and fleet assignment

Airline profits are significantly influenced by competitive timetables that match passenger demand to fleet resources. In this research, we develop an integrated, mixed-integer optimization model to derive a comprehensive flight schedule, fleet assignment, and average airfares jointly. Passenger choice behavior is incorporated through a prospect theory-adjusted, nested, multinomial logit model which estimates market share. The competitive fleet assignment and schedule design (CFSD) formulation is embedded in a differentiated Bertrand game, such that each transport operator optimizes their best response function connected through the market share model. To solve the integrated optimization problem efficiently, a hybrid algorithm is developed that combines stabilized column generation with a large neighborhood search algorithm.The game-theoretic framework is applied to a case study in China involving legacy airlines, a low-cost carrier, and a high-speed rail (HSR) operator. The equilibrium outcomes suggest that the low-cost carrier is likely to stimulate demand and improve the level of service through secondary airports. The further development of high-speed rail service is expected to intensify competition among airlines and reduce the overall fare level. The low-cost carriers and HSR are able to significantly increase overall consumer surplus, providing insights into the potential for low-cost service in the Chinese aviation markets and the entrance of the public service obligation program at minimum cost.

SBAS-based navigation system for precision approach in CAT II LVC

Due to lack of advanced navigation systems, secondary airports are normally unable to support instrument approaches in low visibility conditions (LVC) more adverse than Category (CAT) I, making them inaccessible during such conditions. Incoming flights are then delayed, diverted to adjacent airports, or cancelled before take-off. This paper presents an onboard navigation solution, under development in scope of SESAR 2020 Solution PJ02-W2- 17.2, which focuses on technology development to mitigate these traffic disruptions by enabling instrument approaches in CAT II LVC with minimum airport and air navigation service provider investments. The concept builds upon global navigation satellite systems (Global Positioning System L1 frequency – GPS L1, satellite-based augmentation system), which currently enables Localizer Performance with Vertical guidance (LPV) operation down to LPV 200 minima. The designed system includes radio altimeter-based aiding and innovative integrity algorithm to improve navigation performance in support of operations below 200ft down to CAT II / LPV 100 minima. As no such requirements have yet been officially published, authors also defined sets of candidates based on Instrument Landing System Collision Risk Model and other sources. The team developed and verified a Monte-Carlo fast-time simulation toolset to enable representative and statistically significant evaluation of the concept feasibility via its availability throughout Europe, as well as sensitivity to proposed sets of alert limits. Also, flight data collection and a developed software prototype allow for further validations. Simulations demonstrated over 95% average availability with the best results achieving level of 99% depending on used set of requirements. The solution enabling operations in LVC allows unlocking various benefits to business/airline operators (e.g., avoided extra costs, increased predictability), passengers (avoided opportunity loss) and airports (retained profit from flights, less traffic at diversion airports). Technology development also marks an important step towards gate-to-gate autonomous operations.

Study on the Effect of Secondary Air Layout on CO Reduction Performance in a 75 t/h Biomass CFB Boiler Burning Wheat Straw

Biomass fuels play an important role in the field of fluidized bed combustion, but due to the diversity and uncertainty of fuels, there are usually some problems of high CO emission that cannot be directly solved by combustion adjustment. In this paper, a 75 t/h biomass fluidized bed was taken as the research object. It was observed from the field test that the gas incomplete combustion loss reached 12.13% when mono-combustion of wheat straw was conducted, and the CO concentration in the exhaust gas exceeded 30k ppm. Combined with the CPFD numerical simulation, the combustion characteristics and influence of secondary air layout on CO reduction performance were discussed in detail. The results revealed that the gas temperature gradually increased along furnace height under the initial condition, and the maximum temperature was more than 1000 °C at furnace outlet. The air curtain of the secondary air jets was insufficient, and the wheat straw rose rapidly as it entered into the furnace. By arranging adjacent secondary air ports above each fuel-feeding inlet, the residence time of particles in the furnace could be significantly increased, thus, the furnace temperature distribution was more reasonable and the CO emission was reduced by 58.6%.

Duoport lotniczy jako sposób efektywnego rozwoju infrastruktury lotniczej – doświadczenia międzynarodowe i krajowe

The expansion of low-cost airlines over the last few decades has significantly influenced the requirements and directions of development of aviation infrastructure, opening up development opportunities for many regional and former military airports. In the second phase of development, low-cost airlines increased their presence at major airports. The low-cost model is evolving, just like the models of traditional and charter airlines. These changes are followed by the development and changes in the airport infrastructure. The model infrastructure adapted to serve low-cost airlines is geared towards reducing the cost for the airlines and shortening the turnaround time of aircrafts – it is therefore smaller and simpler, devoid of certain elements, e.g., jet bridges. Similarly, the time and comfort of travel from the airport to the centre of the metropolitan area are not as important as in the case of airports serving traditional airlines. Meeting the requirements of low-cost airlines is influencing changes in the design of airport systems serving metropolitan areas. Various models of aviation market development are implemented around the world – they depend on the size and specificity of the market and, above all, on the social and environmental conditions related to new infrastructure projects. In many areas of the world, in response to the low-cost market boom, duoport systems have been developed in which one of the airports is focused on servicing traditional traffic, and the other on servicing low-cost airlines. Several such projects are being implemented at the same time. Based on these experiences, it is possible to construct an optimal model of a duoport that would enable the development of the aviation market, including both the development of the hub of the local flag carrier and the development of the low-cost segment. This model assumes the specialisation of both airports, cooperation between them, an appropriately attractive location of the secondary airport (serving low-cost airlines) as well as the flexibility of the system (enabling the adaptation of its elements to changing market conditions). The layout of the Warsaw duoport consisting of Warsaw Chopin Airport and Warsaw Modlin Airport must be defined as far from optimal. This is mainly due to the lack of long-term support of the Polish state for this model and the resulting lack of cooperation between the two airports. However, there are objective reasons why the Warsaw duoport may become effective. Both airports have the ability to increase their capacity. Their location in relation to the serviced metropolitan area is optimal. Therefore, this model may be an attractive and worth detailed analysis alternative to the project of the construction of a new central airport within the framework of the CPK project (Centralny Port Komunikacyjny – Solidarity Transport Hub). Key words: air transport, airport, low-cost airline, aviation infrastructure, regional airport, Warsaw Chopin Airport, Warsaw Modlin Airport

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN AN AIRPORT TYPE AND REVENUE STRUCTURE AT BALTIC STATES AIRPORTS

Airports are not only engines of transportation of passengers and cargo, but also commercial enterprises offering services far beyond transportation, which is why their revenues are formed by both aeronautical and non-aeronautical sales. Aeronautical revenues of some large European airports are higher than non-aeronautical revenues, whereas some regional and secondary European airports demonstrate the opposite trend. The aim of this research was to determine if there is a connection between an airport type and the ratio of aeronautical and non-aeronautical revenues at Baltic States airports in way that is consistent with the previous research. The aim was attained in three stages. The first, the definitions of the main and secondary airports were constructed via discourse analysis. The second, the structure of airport revenues of the selected Baltic States airports was analysed. The third, conclusions were made regarding a connection between an airport type and the revenue structure of these Baltic States airports. On the one hand, the research results suggested there might be a connection between an airport type and the revenue structure although this question requires further research, and on the other hand, the financial analysis showed that airports with a higher share of non-aeronautical revenues than aeronautical revenues were more resilient to crises.

Getting closer to your destination: The role of available surface connections on the supply of low-cost carriers in secondary European tourist airports

Secondary airports have played a key role in the development of both low-cost carriers and the tourism industry in recent decades. Although they are usually further from tourists' main destination/origin, low-cost carriers take advantage of lower fares to exploit tourists' lower time valuation. Nonetheless, efficient surface commuting is a key attribute of airport accessibility and a source of relative attractiveness in multi-airport systems. Low-cost airlines have recently changed their strategic behavior by opting to spread their presence at primary airports, which represents a challenge for secondary airports that have both declining traffic and high dependency on low-cost carriers. In this paper we evaluate the role of private and public transportation commuting time efficiency in the quarterly market share of secondary airports for a sample of European multi-airport systems between 2018 and 2021. Our results show that relative commuting efficiency– whether public or private –is a determinant of traffic distribution in multi-airport systems. Public authorities might be interested in improving secondary airports' accessibility when other airport policies are constrained, either to reverse their current adverse trend or to efficiently utilize existing capacity in systems with highly congested primary airports.

Multi-Airport System Development Model: Case Study of Airports in Indonesia

Indonesia's air transportation business has grown substantially to suit the community's transportation needs. An increasing number of people travel by airline each year. By way of secondary and tertiary multiplier effects, the intensifying competition between airport services provided in neighboring regions is likely to have a multiplier influence on a territory. Simultaneously, airport services that are more competitive are focused on areas with rising economic growth in sectors like tourism. MAS is an airport system consisting of at least two airports within a metropolitan area that support civil aviation. MAS includes both big and small airports. MAS is the development of an air transportation system to suit the growing demand for air transportation services. As an example of an integrated multi-model airport design in Indonesia, this research will examine Juanda International Airport, Surabaya, as the major airport and Abdul Rachman Saleh Airport as the secondary airport. In order to establish an integrated multi-modal airport in Indonesia, it is necessary to adopt a multi-airport system. This study's airport location is in East Java Province and includes two airports: Juanda International Airport and Abdul Rachman Saleh Airport. The Juanda International Airport is situated in Sedati, Sidoarjo, whilst the Abdul Rachman Saleh Airport is in Pakis, Malang Regency. Using modelling findings and final passenger statistics, airport capacity in 2045 is determined. The results demonstrated the necessity for more comprehensive points in the MADAM simulation used in this research study, which can estimate a number of crucial parameters. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-SP2021-07-013 Full Text: PDF

Embedding the Localization and Imaging Functions in Mobile Systems: An Airport Surveillance Use Case

Driven by the extended applications and scarce spectrum resources, integrating the radio sensing functions into the future mobile system has been a consensus between the stakeholders. This paper demonstrates the feasibility of joint localization and imaging functions by exploiting the reference signal in the radio frame defined in the mobile system. Essentially, the subspace-based algorithms are adopted to jointly estimate the angle and distance and to enable the localization function for uplink and downlink signals and the derivation of theoretical performance boundaries. The vector antenna and virtual array concepts are introduced in the downlink scenario to enhance the angle estimation resolution. The uplink sounding reference signal is exploited to enable the imaging function as analog to synthetic-aperture radar (SAR). The joint localization and imaging performances are verified with a realistic ray-tracing channel based on the 3D ground and buildings model of Muret airport in France. The simulation results show that the reference signal can provide acceptable localization accuracy and target-distinguishing capability by adopting a virtual array and joint time-spatial smoothing in downlink and uplink, respectively. The joint localization and imaging results prove that the future mobile network is potentially a viable infrastructure to provide economic surveillance solutions for airports, particularly for secondary airports that are not well equipped with dedicated surveillance systems.

Managing a multiple-gateway airport system with super high-speed rail

In this study, we analyzed the airport choice behavior of inbound Chinese travelers to Japan. We determined the effect of launching super high-speed rail (SHSR) on air-rail integration and its effect on the gateway functions of airports connected by high-speed rail or SHSR. We developed a bi-level model adopting nested-type stochastic user equilibrium using a capacity constraints model. Based on simulations, we concluded that (i) introducing SHSR can reduce the congestion at the primary gateway airport; (ii) direct connection with SHSR can enhance the gateway function of secondary gateway airports; (iii) when a low-cost carrier is operating in the market, the gateway function at secondary airports without SHSR may be diminished by the introduction of SHSR.

Potential of secondary airports’ renewal in terms of development of the national economy

The article outlines the classification of airports, the role of secondary airports in the infrastructure of the country, understanding the need of the secondary airports' renewal. The aviation industry plays a crucial role in the development of economy of the country and international economic relations, as it generates incomes, job places, and opportunities for growth. Every country has both primary and secondary airports, regional (secondary) airports are a vital part of the aviation infrastructure. They are engines of local development and allow accessibility to certain locations, in particular those that are remote or not well served by other forms of transportation. They are enablers of free movement of people, goods and services, as well as of social and territorial cohesion. Furthermore, regional airports stimulate incoming tourism and employment, as well as facilitate access to essential services. They can also help to reduce congestion at major hub airports. Unfortunately, in Ukraine secondary airports are not cultivated enough, thus the air transportation is the neck place in most cases, but this situation may be solved with renewal of secondary airports' work, the importance of which is described in this article.

Emergence Time Phasing for the Potential New Airports in the Middle District of Iraq

With the growing demand for air transportation and limited capacity at Baghdad International airport (BIAP), there is a need to increase the capacity of airport systems in the middle district of Iraq. The increased use of secondary airports has been and is expected to be one of the key mechanisms by which future demand is met in congested metropolitan areas. This paper analyzed the factors influencing the emergence of secondary airports in the Iraqi middle district and the dynamics of multi-airport systems. A system dynamics model was developed to simulate the relationship between the core airport in Baghdad and three potential secondary airports, one in each adjacent governorate. The model takes under consideration such characteristics as; capacity, location, proximity to populated communities, and ground transportation services for each airport. the main outcomes of this model are; the passenger's persuasion in an airport, which reflects their propensity to use this particular airport, and the predicted number of annual passengers in each airport. The system dynamics model was consulted twice. The outcomes of the first run facilitated the economic analyses of the secondary airports on which the sequence of the airports emergence was determined, and it also showed that the new airport feasibility is highly affected by the location, due to the influence on the road user cost for passengers, in addition to the capital expenses. The second run of the model helped in predicting the time schedule and interval between an airport emergence and the other. If the new airports have an equal capacity of one million passenger per year, the expected timing for the emergence is in 2023, 2027, and 2032 for the airports in Balad, Habbaniyah, and Baquba respectively.

An agent-based model for air transportation to capture network effects in assessing delay management mechanisms

This article presents some of the results on the implementation of a decentralised delay management process that we call 4D trajectory adjustments (4DTA) obtained with Mercury, a stochastic agent-based model. The model operates within a strong agent paradigm at the level of individual flights and passengers. It includes a realistic cost model for the airlines, allowing us to have a good tactical choice model and excellent estimation of airspace user costs. Due to the inclusion of different stakeholders, including passengers, and various processes – like aircraft turnaround or passenger reaccommodation – it is able to catch European-wide network effects that are inaccessible to other models. It was used to study the 4DTA process, a blend of ‘wait for passengers and tactical speed adjustments’, which is shown to have a significant impact on the system. Thanks to the detailed output of the model, we are able to breakdown the effect for different classes of flights and passengers, and show that important trade-offs exist in terms of delays and costs. In particular, the introduction of such mechanism could be detrimental to non-connecting passengers, especially at secondary airports.

Updating National Air Passenger Demand from Traffic Counts: The Case of a Secondary Airport in an Underdeveloped Region

Demand models allow to estimate the choices made by users on different alternatives. Demand models depend on the characteristic attributes of the users and transport networks, as well as on parameters. Their significance translates into the reliability of the model in reproducing users’ choices as demand values. Traffic counts are aggregated data that can be used to update demand values of O/D matrix and/or for re-calibrating parameters from sets of parameters obtained in different situations or at different times in the same scenario using a reverse assignment modal. This paper provides the use of passenger counts to update national air transport demand by calibrating a hierarchical logit model. The application focuses on estimating the demand values for a secondary airport of an underdeveloped European region with the calibration of the logsum parameter working between distribution and modal choice. The updated model can be used to test new conditions for the supply of a new service or to increase the frequency or to modify the ticket level by means of public service obligations. The results show that the introduction of public obligations in the secondary airport in an underdeveloped region is crucial for future sustainability. Considering the decline in the economic, social and environmental sustainability in the region, the airport is central to economic and social development at the same time as being important for environmental sustainability, as it limits the impacts on the territory related to the construction of large transport infrastructures.

Airport Competitive Strengths in Turkey: Primary, Secondary, and Regional Airports

Airport commercialization have great impact on airport management. While non-aeronautical revenues have gain importance as well as aeronautical revenues, airport management perspective are changed dramatically. This paper aims to determine airport competitive advantages in Turkey, and  analytic network process method is used to analyse competitive strengths of airports. Airport categorized as primary, secondary, and regional. Results shows that facility factors are the most important strength for primary airports. While demand factors are the most important strength for secondary airports, service factors are the most one for regional airports.

Reinterpreting the role of primary and secondary airports in low-cost carrier expansion in Europe

This paper discusses the long-term effects of low-cost carrier (LCC) presence at European airports and identifies the airports that have benefited the most from LCC consolidation since 2001. The research uses ‘LCC Market Share’, in terms of seats, to measure the relative importance of LCCs within each airport; and introduces ‘EU LCA Rank’ as a normalised metric of the capacity share of every airport in the European low-cost segment. It evaluates the trends between 2001 and 2019 in all airports in Europe using OAG supply information (seats by carrier). Results show two different phases of LCC rise in Europe, 2001 to 2008 and 2009 to 2019, marked by the effects of the financial crisis of the Great Recession. The analysis highlights the role that LCCs have played in boosting the growth of both primary and secondary airports. Indeed, despite the fact that LCCs have put many smaller airports on the European map, during the second phase of the period of analysis growth has been more significant for major airports and for a few airports that were keen to support the earliest development of LCCs. In that sense, this paper contributes to a better understanding of the historical and contemporary dynamics in European LCCs choice of airports and, in particular, the long-term effects that this disruptive business model have had for airports. This is increasingly important in the context of a potential recovery path from the effects of the response to the Covid-19 pandemic. This paper also attempts to settle academic discussions that attach LCC development to secondary/regional airports disregarding the wide range of strategies used by airlines and airports.

Between external forces and internal factors: The geography of domestic airline services in South Africa

This paper investigates the changes and current patterns of domestic passenger airline networks in South Africa, considering routes operated and volumes of seats supplied by carriers. This market was liberalised in 1991 and the new market-oriented policy was not challenged by the post-apartheid regime. Flag-carrier South African Airways (SAA) has lost its virtual monopoly, and thus significant volumes and market share, although its decrease is smaller if one considers its regional affiliates and subsidiary. Conversely, low-cost airlines have literally boomed, while British Airways has penetrated the market through a franchise agreement with Comair. Route networks by airline show various patterns. The low-cost carriers tend to concentrate on South Africa's Golden Triangle, while SAA regional affiliates mostly serve thin routes without competitors. Furthermore, the rise of low-cost airlines has led to the utilisation of a secondary airport in Johannesburg, the only African city with a multiple-airport system. Finally, our results are interpreted in light of South Africa's geography, intermodal options and social-political issues.

An analysis of the demand for business aircraft among the corporate sector in South Africa

Background: Business aircraft fulfil a major need in providing access and mobility solutions not generally offered by scheduled commercial aircraft. These aircraft often make use of secondary airports in outlying areas thus encouraging economic development. Business aviation is, in general, growing throughout the world and also in some African countries, but appears to be subdued in South Africa. The purpose of this research project was to determine the demand characteristics for business aviation aircraft in South Africa.Objectives: The primary research objective was to determine the demand for business aircraft in South Africa, as well as the nature and characteristics of the users and non-users of business aircraft among the top 100 companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).Method: A pragmatic research philosophy guided an exploratory sequential mixed methods research design. Findings from face-to-face interviews with aviation experts were utilised to develop the research questionnaire distributed to the top 100 JSE-listed companies.Results: The potential future growth for the business aircraft market is most likely to come from existing users, with marginal growth from new entrants in the market. Perceived costs are major deterrents to the utilisation of business aircraft.Conclusion: The research provides market intelligence necessary to guide business aviation companies to efficiently service or expand the market for business aircraft in South Africa, contributing to the existing knowledge in air transport.

Examination of low-cost carriers' development at secondary airports using a comprehensive world airport classification

The existing literature appears to suggest that low-cost carriers (LCCs) tend to focus their business at “secondary airports” instead of “primary airports”. However, there lack systematic quantifiers to distinguish the two airport types. The present paper investigates whether this remark still holds today, and if not, whether the change is a worldwide phenomenon. We first establish a systematic parameterization to classify airport types, based on aviation network connectivity, regional importance, and MAR (multi-airport region) effects. With this classification of world airports, our analysis of the latest empirical data shows that some previously indubitable features of LCCs might have slowly changed. In particular, LCCs are expanding fast at both upper-tiers’ and lower-tiers’ airports, and there is a trend of shifting airport choice from lower-tiers’ to upper-tiers’ airports for LCCs in some continents. The evolving competition relationship between the full-service carriers (FSCs) and LCCs is also discussed.