STATED CHOICE VALUATION OF AIRCRAFT NOISE: THE CLOSING AND OPENING OF AIRPORTS IN ATHENS

摘要

Stated Choice methods are finding increasing application in the valuation of externalities induced by travel. In the context of transport related noise, such methods support more detailed analysis of consumers' willingness to pay to reduce noise than the conventional hedonic pricing approach. Nonetheless, application to the valuation of aircraft noise is comparatively rare. This paper reports the innovative application of Stated Choice methods not to relatively small changes in aircraft movements, which is typical of most Stated Choice studies on the issue. The entire removal of aircraft noise and the introduction of aircraft noise where none previously existed are examined here. This research context arose from the closure of Hellenikon airport in Athens and its replacement by the new Eleftherios Venizelos airport. The Stated Choice exercises provided trade-offs between the presence or not of aircraft noise at Hellenikon and Eleftherios Venizelos airports. Other variables were included in the choice: public transport travel time, tram or light rail service, traffic congestion, local tax and the use of the Hellenikon Airport land after its closure. Data was collected during the period October to December 2005 and models have been estimated to 700 individuals at the two locations. Not only do these value the presence or absence of aircraft movements but they have also been enhanced to include physical measures of noise. The findings suggest an annual household valuation per dBA ranging from ?5.00 to ?103.40 and this variation is discussed in detail in the paper and is influenced by current exposure levels, tolerance of noise and differences between willingness to pay (WTP) and willingness to accept compensation (WTA).