International air network structures;;air traffic density of major cities and effects of new airports in Asia

摘要

Abstract: This paper is a follow-up research of Matsumoto (2004;;2007);;whichexamined the international air network structures within and among the Asian;;European and American regions and revealed the air traffic density of world major citiesbetween 1982 and 2000. After 1990 up to now;;however;;new international airportsstarted up one after another in Asia: Shenzhen (1991);;Osaka/Kansai (1994);;Macau(1995);;Kuala Lumpur (1998);;Hong Kong (1998);;Shanghai/Pudong (1999);;Seoul/Incheon (2001);;Guangzhou (2004);;Nagoya/Chubu (2005);;Tianjin (2005) andBangkok (2006);;while Tokyo/Narita;;Singapore;;Taipei/Taoyuan etc. have expandedtheir runways or terminals. This indicates these two previous studies didn’t fully reflectthe effects of new airports on the air traffic density of cities. The main objective of thispaper is to show the shifting competitive positions among primary airports in this region.After evaluating the international air network structures in 2009;;the air traffic densityof major cities and cities with a new airport in the region after 2001 is clarified by abasic gravity model composed of GDP;;population and distance;;introducingcity-dummy variables. The results reveal that Seoul;;Hong Kong;;Tokyo and Guangzhouare strengthening their positions as international air transportation hubs;;among whichGuangzhou is growing at an extraordinary rate.