Edgar Ramiro Jimenez

Abstract
Airports have traditionally been considered as public utility providers, with little potential to develop significant market opportunities. Liberalisation of the air transport market around the globe has introduced new dynamics into the airport industry. The emergence of competition and the transition in ownership (towards privatisation or commercialisation) demand a different perspective in airport management. This paper aims at explaining the complexity of the airport business, in particular in what concerns the role of the airport as a firm that operates in a network of stakeholders, to produce a set of service packages targeted at several types of customers. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of Scientific Committee

Abstract
This paper applies network analysis to study the evolution of aviation networks. It takes a different approach from previous research that usually only explores airline networks. The aviation network of the airports of Lisbon, Faro and Porto, is modelled using the supply of seats and the passenger demand between 2001 and 2010. This analysis is complemented with a study of the commercial evolution of the three airports. It is noticeable the impact of low-cost carriers in the evolution of the configuration of the network over time. A de-concentration effect is also shown to occur, due to the interaction between airport and airline decisions that favour network development. The results of the analysis highlight how critical it has become for airport managers to assess and satisfy the real requirements of the different types of airlines, in order to reduce uncertainty and increase traffic.

Abstract

Abstract
This work describes an exploratory study to examine the evolution of the aviation network of three airports in continental Portugal - Lisbon, Faro and Porto - between 2001 and 2010. Our main goal is to evaluate the influence that decisions taken in a given airport have over decisions made in other airports in the network. Additionally, the research shows the relationship between airport competition and the changes occurring in the aviation network during the period of study. A conceptual framework on airport competition is also presented in order to define the ways in which airports compete and the relationships between them. We evaluate the degree of concentration of the aviation network using the Network Concentration Index (NC). Similarly, we analyse planning documents produced by the operator of the airports, to assess how aware they are on airport competition and on the strategies proposed for their airports.