Air Cargo and Airport Competitiveness

Abstract

Historically, airlines and airports considered air cargo as a by-product. However, by looking for additional sources of revenue, airlines and airports became aware of the potential of air cargo. In this study, the competitiveness of European airports with respect to air cargo will be discussed. The relevant characteristics determining the competitiveness of an airport with respect to air cargo are identified by an extensive literature review and by interviews with industry-specialists. These characteristics can be divided into four different components: territory, air cargo marketplace, airport operations and product differentiation. Each component consists of several factors affecting airport competitiveness for cargo. This study can be used by airports to help assessing and enhancing its air cargo strategy, whereas (potential) shareholders are given an additional instrument to check whether an investment in an airport makes would be viable or not.

Characterization of Airfreight-Related Logistics Firms in the City of Cape Town, South Africa

“…Historically, discussions about air transport largely revolved around passenger concerns instead of airfreight or air cargo matters, partly because airfreight was considered a by-product of the air passenger service [3,[11][12][13]. It is acknowledged that airlines and freight forwarders still utilize the belly of passenger aircraft to transport cargo [14,15], hence passenger air transport is critical in the logistics industry [14].…”

Preconditions for creating tools for managing organziational and technological processes of servicing airport cargo flows

“…Погоджуємося з Т. Ван Ашем та ін. [11] щодо хибності твердження про другорядність вантажних авіаційних перевезень для авіаперевізників та аеропортів. У межах спроби порівняти логістичні фірми міста, пов'язані з авіаперевезеннями та не пов'язані з ними, виявлено, що аеропорт не є прямим фактором впливу на позиціювання цих фірм [12].…”

Spatial Differentiation of Multi-Airport Logistics in Four Urban Agglomerations in China

“…Other MLS-related studies have investigated the cargo competitiveness of multiple airports. Van, for example, examined the air cargo competitiveness of European airports and identified the characteristics that determine airport competitiveness [15]. Gökhan, meanwhile, studied the domestic and international industry competition environment in relation to Istanbul Airport and determined the best competitive strategy for Turkey's air cargo industry [16].…”

“…Few studies have explored the development level of airport logistics, with most focusing mainly on the influencing factors. A limited number of studies have investigated the competitiveness of airport logistics development and its influencing factors [15], such as the levels of economic development and management [17]. Most, however, are qualitative, with little quantitative content.…”