Exploring the differences in the airport competitiveness formation mechanism: evidence from 45 Chinese airports during 2010–2014

ABSTRACT

In this paper, the formation mechanism difference for airport groups is explored. The 45 Chinese airports operating from 2010 to 2014 are classified into 3 groups by a K-means clustering algorithm. Then, the formation mechanism index system is built using seven aspects: Regional Development, Infrastructure Conditions, Operational Strength, Demand Conditions, Support Industry, Service Strength and Technology Index. The formation mechanisms of the 3 airport groups are tested based on 11 basic hypotheses. The results show that different airport groups have different competitiveness formation mechanisms. The conclusions can provide targeted competitiveness cultivation guidance for decision makers at different airports.

KEYWORDS:

• Airport competitiveness
• formation mechanism
• clustering

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the three anonymous reviewers for the constructive comments which improved this paper significantly.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research is funded by National Nature Science Foundation of China [grant number 71403034], [grant number 71521002]; Nature Science Foundation of Liaoning Province [grant number 201601841]; the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities [grant number 20110116204]; China Postdoctoral Science Foundation [grant number 2016M590050].