CERES :: Browsing by Author "Suau-Sanchez, Pere"

Browsing by Author "Suau-Sanchez, Pere"

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Open Access
An appraisal of the CORINE land cover database in airport catchment area analysis using a GIS approach.
(Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam., 2014-01-31T00:00:00Z) Suau-Sanchez, Pere; Burghouwt, Guillaume; Pallares-Barbera, Montserrat
This paper presents a free available dataset, the CORINE land cover that helps dealing with the biases caused by pre-defined and heterogeneous census district boundaries in airport catchment area analysis in Europe. Using this dataset and conventional GIS software it is possible to measure the size of the population within catchment areas at the same spatial level for all EU airports, allowing for consistent comparisons among airports. To illustrate the potential of the CORINE/GIS approach, the size of the population in the catchment areas of all European airports was determined. The empirical exercise has an aggregate perspective, but this database presents many other possibilities of analysis to perform in a case-by-case basis.
Open Access
Assessing the fuel burn and CO2 impacts of the introduction of next generation aircraft: A study of a major European low-cost carrier
(Elsevier, 2016-09-17) Budd, Thomas; Suau-Sanchez, Pere
he introduction of more fuel-efficient ‘next generation’ aircraft has the potential to yield benefits for fuel burn and CO2 emissions over current generation aircraft. This has important implications in terms of airline fuel costs and competition, but also for compliance with future environmental legislation and market based incentive schemes. In Europe, major low-cost carriers such Ryanair, easyJet, and Norwegian Air Shuttle have been active in updating their fleet, and they now operate some of the youngest fleets in the industry. Subsequently, the paper assesses the possible fuel burn and CO2 impacts of the introduction of next generation aircraft by employing OAG data and EUROCONTROL's ‘Small Emitters Tool’ to determine the annual fuel burn and CO2 emissions for easyJet, a major European low-cost carrier. Estimations were then made regarding the potential impacts on fuel burn and CO2 emissions from the introduction of the airline's next generation of aircraft under three fleet plan scenarios. Analysis indicates that while new aircraft may allow airlines to increase the capacity in their network with only a marginal increase in overall fuel burn and CO2 emissions, this is unlikely to lead to substantial overall reductions in total fuel burn and emissions, at least in the short term.
Open Access
An assessment of air passenger confidence a year into the COVID-19 crisis: A segmentation analysis of passengers in Norway
(Elsevier, 2021-09-28) Budd, Thomas; Suau-Sanchez, Pere; Halpern, Nigel; Mwesiumo, Deodat; Bråthen, Svein
The COVID-19 crisis has become the most intense and long-lasting in the history of aviation. There is already a significant literature on the immediate impact of the outbreak, as well as on speculation on the future evolution of the industry. This paper seeks to contribute to this discussion by assessing a year into the crisis the demand related aspects and passenger behavioural impacts of the pandemic. Specifically, the paper aims to identify discrete market segments of air passengers according to their shared attitudes and preferences about air travel in light of the COVID-19 crisis, as well as past behaviour and future travel intentions. To achieve this, we analyse data from a large (n = 2096) online questionnaire survey of air passengers in Norway. The cluster analysis identifies four distinct passenger segments, with each displaying varying attitudes, behaviours, and levels of concern about air travel. One of these groups, described as the ‘Apprehensive Elders’, were identified as having the highest level of concern about flying, and subsequently showed a sharp decline in their intention to travel in the future. Another group, termed the ‘Cautious Commuters’, showed similarly enhanced levels of concerns about flying, but maintained a high propensity to fly following the pandemic despite these concerns. Regarding possible interventions to increase confidence in flying in the future, across all segments the data shows a clear preference for more ‘traditional’ active interventions, including wearing of face masks and enforcement of physical distancing, over and above passive or technological interventions. Norway represents a valuable case as a possible signal for future policy and practice in relation to the recovery of air travel following the pandemic. The findings have important implications for air transport managers and decision makers in terms of managing the perceptions and expectations of different passenger groups as air travel begins to return.
Open Access
An assessment of the potential for self-connectivity at European airports in holiday markets
(Elsevier, 2017-04-06) Suau-Sanchez, Pere; Voltes-Dorta, Augusto; Rodríguez-Déniz, Héctor
In a context of intense airport and airline competition, a few European airports have recently started offering self-connection services to price-sensitive holiday passengers travelling with a combination of tickets where the airline/s involved do not handle the transfer themselves. This paper provides an exploratory analysis of the potential and implications of self-connectivity for European airports and airlines using a case study of air travel routes to holiday destinations in the Mediterranean. With the help of a forecasting model based on a zero-inflated Poisson regression, we identify the airports and airlines that have the highest potential to facilitate self-connections in the selected markets. The results also explore some implications of the widespread development of self-connection services in Europe.
Open Access
Book review: España capital París
(Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 2012) Suau-Sanchez, Pere
Open Access
Challenging the interline and codeshare legacy: Drivers and barriers for airline adoption of airport facilitated inter-airline network connectivity schemes
(Elsevier, 2020-07-27) Never, Jan; Suau-Sanchez, Pere
Network connectivity has always been under the sovereignty of airlines until a few years ago when a small number of airports embarked on challenging that legacy and introduced the first so-called airport-led transfer schemes. Although the viability and future of airport-led transfer schemes that entail an airport-airline-co-operation is heavily dependent on airline participation, their role and what could promote or impede their adoption decision is generally absent from academic literature. Therefore, this paper analyses the potential drivers and barriers for the airline adoption of airport facilitated inter-airline network connectivity schemes. In order to achieve this, a case study research strategy was employed and the triangulation of qualitative and quantitative data was attained through a combination of literature, interview and survey research that was guided by the innovation diffusion theory. Findings suggest a total of 23 key drivers and barriers that directly and indirectly influence the airline adoption of airport facilitated inter-airline network connectivity schemes. Beyond those individual drivers and barriers, three main research findings of strategic relevance for the future diffusion and airline adoption of such schemes can be identified: Limited awareness, divergent attitudes and the schemes obsolescence risk.
Open Access
Classifying airports according to their hub dimensions: an application to the US domestic network
(Elsevier, 2013-11-09) Rodríguez-Déniz, Héctor; Suau-Sanchez, Pere; Voltes-Dorta, Augusto
Government agencies classify airports for different purposes, including the allocation of public funding for capacity developments. In a context of hub classification, determining the contribution of each airport to the national network in terms of the two dimensions of hubbing -i.e., traffic generation and connectivity- is a key aspect. In this regard, the choice of an appropriate connectivity indicator is still an unresolved issue. This paper adapts the well-known flow centrality indicator to an air transport context and develops a novel measure of airport connectivity. An application to the US domestic network is provided, using quarterly data on passenger demand to perform a detailed time-series analysis of airport connectivity patterns between 1993 and 2012. The flow centrality indicator is then used to define an alternative airport classification method within the context of the Federal Aviation Administration’s National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIASs). Results show that there is potential for improving the existing airport typology by explicitly separating connectivity and traffic generation as classification criteria.
Open Access
A comparative analysis of hub connections of European and Asian airports against Middle Eastern hubs in intercontinental markets
(Elsevier, 2017-10-09) Piltz, Christopher; Voltes-Dorta, Augusto; Suau-Sanchez, Pere
In a context of changing trends in global air passenger demand and strong airport and airline competition, the largest US carriers have challenged the quality of the flight connections provided by Middle Eastern hubs in direct competition with their own connections provided via European or Asian airports. Using schedules and bookings data between 2012 and 2016, we assess whether European and Asian hubs have lost market share to Middle East airports in the markets from the Eastern US to South Asia and South East Asia. Thereafter, we provide a comparative analysis of the quality of flight connections for selected European, Asian, and Middle Eastern airports, based on indicators like total frequencies, travel times, and connecting times (determined with a connections-building algorithm). The results provide insights on the threat posed by Middle East airports and airlines that have managerial and policy implications.
Open Access
Conceptualising airport digital maturity and dimensions of technological and organisational transformation
(Henry Stewart Publications, 2021-03-01) Halpern, Nigel; Budd, Thomas; Suau-Sanchez, Pere; Bråthen, Svein; Mwesiumo, Deodat
As airports undergo digital transformation, ie a paradigmatic shift in the way digital technologies are adopted and used, there is a need for actionable insights to ensure that airport digital maturity is achieved. Using an integrative review of literature, this paper develops an airport digital maturity model, focusing mainly on a passenger experience perspective. The paper then delineates two dimensions of digital transformation — technological and organisational. Subsequently, an airport digital transformation model is conceptualised to identify key factors that airports need to consider when transforming their business and interesting lines of enquiry for future research. Insights offered by the model are relevant to both practitioners and researchers interested in conducting future studies in this area.
Open Access
Connectivity levels and the competitive position of Spanish airports and Iberia's network rationalization strategy, 2001-2007
(Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam., 2012-01-31T00:00:00Z) Suau-Sanchez, Pere; Burghouwt, Guillaume
This paper examines the connectivity of the Spanish airport system between 2001 and 2007. Over the period, network carriers considerably strengthened the connectivity between Spanish airports and major European hubs. Although OneWorld is still the dominant alliance in Spain, SkyTeam and Star achieved a larger connectivity share through the growth of indirect services provided through their northern European hubs. In addition, the network rationalization strategy of Iberia and its decision to concentrate operations at Madrid-Barajas had important implications for the connectivity of other Spanish airports. Low-cost carriers have boosted direct connectivity from secondary Spanish airports.
Open Access
Drivers of airport scheduled traffic in European winter tourism areas: infrastructure, accessibility, competition and catchment area
(Elsevier, 2019-09-26) Suau-Sanchez, Pere; Voltes-Dorta, Augusto
Ski resorts in Europe are major tourism destinations that can generate traffic for their local airports. These small mountain airports can offer the airlines unparalleled accessibility to the resorts, but their catchment areas are typically not well populated. Local authorities are keen to develop scheduled flights but have failed many times in the past. In this context, there is no previous study that analyses the drivers of scheduled airport traffic in winter tourism regions. To that end, we compiled a large dataset of European airports and ski resorts and carry out a Poisson regression. Results show that catchment area, competition, and infrastructure outweigh accessibility to ski resorts as the main drivers of scheduled traffic at small mountain airports. This is linked to the dominance of low-cost carriers that prefer to operate out of major airports with larger aircraft. Small airports are recommended to focus on premium markets with smaller aircraft.
Open Access
An early assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on air transport: Just another crisis or the end of aviation as we know it?
(Elsevier, 2020-06-04) Suau-Sanchez, Pere; Voltes-Dorta, Augusto; Cugueró-Escofet, Natàlia
Open Access
Estimating the costs for the airport operator and airlines of a drone-related shutdown: an application to Frankfurt international airport
(Springer, 2020-07-08) Wendt, Philippe; Voltes-Dorta, Augusto; Suau-Sanchez, Pere
Commercially-acquired drones threaten airport operations due to limited knowledge of airspace safety regulations or deliberate action by drone operators. This study aims to determine whether the investment cost of a drone-defence system can be justified in relation to the financial cost of a drone-related shutdown. To that end, a case study of Frankfurt Airport is carried out with simulations of different disruptions during a peak-activity period similar to the 2018 Gatwick drone incident. With data on passenger traffic and airline schedules, we developed a passenger recovery algorithm to determine the amount of delays caused by the disruptions and the costs for the airport operator and the airlines. Results show that the investment in a drone-defence system is offset by the costs of a 48-h continued closure or several smaller closures, but since the largest share of costs is borne by the airlines, investments should be shared between both stakeholders
Open Access
The evolving low-cost business model: network implications of fare bundling and connecting flights in Europe
(Elsevier, 2014-12-17) Fageda, Xavier; Suau-Sanchez, Pere; Mason, Keith J.
In a context of limited organic growth, some low-cost airlines have considered business strategies that are changing two key principles of the low-cost airline business model: fare unbundling and point-to-point operations. Using a multivariate analysis we identify the influence of several route characteristics on the share that European pure low-cost and hybrid low-cost carriers have on the routes they operate. Results show that, from a network perspective, the distance between the archetypical low-cost carrier business model and the adapted low-cost carrier business model with a hybrid approach is widening. Differences are also clear between hybrids offering connecting services and hybrids offering fare bundling. The results are also important from an airport policy perspective, since secondary airports and legacy airports in transition could be able to reduce the gap between them and the main hub airports.
Open Access
An exploratory and confirmatory composite analysis of a scale for measuring privacy concerns
(Elsevier, 2021-07-23) Mwesiumo, Deodat; Halpern, Nigel; Budd, Thomas; Suau-Sanchez, Pere; Bråthen, Svein
This paper reports a confirmatory composite analysis of a scale for measuring privacy concerns, and the effect of privacy concerns on the willingness to provide personal data. The analysis is based on 468 survey responses, divided into two contexts: airport digital services and online retail services. Results from both contexts confirm that privacy concerns consist of a third-order construct comprising two-second order constructs (interaction management and information management) and a first-order construct (awareness). The effect of privacy concerns on the willingness to provide personal data is higher in the airport digital context than in the online retail context. Also, the relevance of the three dimensions varies by context. Thus, researchers must carefully consider their research context and include items for the most relevant dimensions of privacy concerns in measurement models. Likewise, managers must prioritise dimensions of privacy concerns according to their business context.
Open Access
The geography of the Spanish airport system: Spatial concentration and deconcentration patterns in seat capacity distribution, 2001-2008
(Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam., 2011-03-31T00:00:00Z) Suau-Sanchez, Pere; Burghouwt, Guillaume
This paper analyzes the geography of seat capacity at Spanish airports between 2001 and 2008. Concentration and deconcentration patterns for different markets have been identified. For this purpose, we use the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI), the Concentration Ratio (CR) and the Lorenz curve. From our analysis, we conclude that seat capacity follows a deconcentration pattern due to the growth of low-cost carriers at small- and medium-sized Spanish airports. This is in line with earlier studies for Europe as a whole. Intercontinental seat capacity still remains very much concentrated in Madrid and, to a lesser extent, in Barcelona. However, new strategies by long-haul airlines bypassing the primary European hubs foster the deconcentration of seat capacity in the Asian and North American markets. In the case of Spain, the recent liberalization of the EU-US market may become an important enabler of such network strategies, e.g., Delta has operated a route from Valencia to New York-JFK since 2009. In other intercontinental markets, capacity is more and more concentrated in Madrid. We highlight the restructuring of Iberia's network as an important factor behind the increasing dominance of Madrid in intercontinental markets.
Open Access
Identifying the true European ‘low-cost airports'
(Universidade da Beira Interior, 2019-10-11) Jimenez Perez, Edgar; Suau-Sanchez, Pere
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 during the current century. 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 2018 in a sample of the 300 largest European airports, by total seats in 2018, using OAG supply information (seats by carrier). Results highlight the role that LCCs have played in boosting the growth of airports, both primary and secondary, that were keen to appreciate the development of the low-cost segment earlier. Indeed, despite the fact that LCCs have put many airports on the European map, during the second half of the period of analysis growth has been more significant for major airports. In that sense, this paper contributes a better understanding of the recent dynamics in European LCCs choice of airports and, in particular, the long-term effects that this disruptive business model have had for airports.
Open Access
The impact of accommodation taxes on outbound travel demand from the United Kingdom to European destinations
(SAGE, 2020-04-06) Heffer-Flaata, Hedvig; Voltes-Dorta, Augusto; Suau-Sanchez, Pere
Despite the progressive introduction of accommodation taxes in many European cities, there is no consensus in the literature as to whether they have positive or negative effects. This may be related to the lack of estimates of the elasticity of visitor demand to accommodation taxes. To fill this gap, we carry out two panel-data regressions using a data set of airline travelers from UK cities to Spanish, French, and Italian destinations between 2012 and 2018. The results from the two-stage least squares regressions indicate that UK international travelers are indeed sensitive to hotel taxes. However, the impact of these taxes differs between peak and off-peak periods and across destination countries, with French destinations showing the most negative effect on visitor flows. The analysis of tax elasticities at a destination level also reveals the lack of a significant negative impact on visitor flows to major cities like Venice or Barcelona.
Open Access
The income elasticity gap and its implications for economic growth and tourism development: the Balearic vs the Canary Islands
(Taylor & Francis, 2020-01-30) Inchausti-Sintes, Federico; Voltes-Dorta, Augusto; Suau-Sanchez, Pere
The Balearic and the Canary Islands are two well-known tourism-led economies. They both experienced a tourism boom during the same decades, and, hence, they developed a similar productive-mix. Nevertheless, there are strong economic differences between the two regions. While the Balearic Islands enjoy a high GDP per capita, the Canary Islands show a more modest performance. The results of a panel data regression confirm our hypothesis that they differ substantially in terms of income elasticity of tourism. It is two times higher in the Balearic Islands than in the Canaries, which indicates the first is perceived as a more luxurious destination. Furthermore, the results of a dynamic computable general equilibrium model show that the Canaries would converge in GDP per capita with the Balearic Islands if they attracted tourists with a similar profile as the latter
Open Access
Incorporating annoyance in airport environmental policy: Noise, societal response and community participation
(Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam., 2011-03-31T00:00:00Z) Suau-Sanchez, Pere; Pallares-Barbera, Montserrat; Paül, Valerià
Airport capacity continues to be one of the air transport issues that creates the most concern. The major environmental constraint for airports is the noise generated by aircraft. Annoyed communities living around airports have become a limiting factor for airport capacity and operability. This paper brings together the existing literature in the fields of airport environmental capacity, non-acoustic factors of noise annoyance, NIMBYism and environmental conflicts. We also analyze the socio-environmental conflict between Barcelona airport and the community of Gaya Mar. This case shows that the lack of trust between parties, the impossibility of predicting noise exposure, the absence of opportunities for civil society to speak and the difficulty of accessing relevant information foster annoyance and mobilization in the communities that live around the airport. In addition, it is shown that, in such a situation, communities' reactions can evolve to a post-NIMBY stage in which proactive attitudes replace reactive ones. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.