NETWORK PERFORMANCE, HUB CONNECTIVITY POTENTIAL, AND COMPETITIVE POSITION OF PRIMARY AIRPORTS IN ASIA/PACIFIC REGION

摘要

Recently, hub-and-spoke network configurations are more and morerndeveloped in the Asia/Pacific region. In this paper, it is argued that the measurement ofrnnetwork performance in hub-and-spoke systems should take into account the quantityrnand quality of both direct and indirect connections. The NetScan Model, whichrnquantifies an indirect connection and scales it into a theoretical direct connection, isrnapplied to analyze the competitive position of airports or airlines in an integrated way.rnMeasuring and comparing the network performance and the hub connectivity potentialrnof selected seventeen primary airports in the Asia/Pacific region between 2001 and 2007rnwill be elaborated in this paper. The results revealed that Tokyo/Narita has the largestrnnetwork performance and hub connectivity potential. The most striking growth ofrnnetwork developments can be found at Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. The numberrnof both direct and indirect/onward connectivity at these airports increased at a muchrnhigher rate between these years than at other airports. On the contrary, Sydney,rnMelbourne and Auckland experienced deteriorating network performance. This regionrnalso showed stronger position of One World and Star Alliance. Sky Team, however, hasrnan innegligible position especially at Tokyo/Narita and Osaka/Kansai, in addition tornSeoul/Incheon, owing to fifth and sixth freedom rights of the Sky Team members. Thernanalysis presented in this paper may be helpful for airports or airlines in identifyingrntheir network performance and competitive position in relation to competing airports orrnairlines.