The Route Less Traveled (‘No-frills' Model Viability in SEE)

摘要

Intra-regional air transport developments, in the light of planned EU enlargement in the Balkans, call for exploring the most suitable economic models as well as a strategy for regional aviation integration. The result could be the first regional ‘no-frills' carrier in the Balkans based on the Southwest model and its EU derivatives. By exploiting benefits from the air transport liberalisation in the SEE (South-East Europe) region and through strategic analysis of current airlines' route network and demand, new OD markets supporting a low fare airline model will arise. Interval of useful ranges for aircraft11 will be used for inter-modal accessibility range comparison in order to justify new routes to be flown by this low-fare carrier, as a result of modal shift from road to air transport. Also, secondary airports such as Batajnica in Belgrade, or additional terminals (Zagreb) will be examined to determine the most strategically appropriate hub in the SEE region for this regional ‘no-frills' airline. The ultimate goal of this paper is to explore major conditions needed for the establishment of such carrier and to examine its financial, operational and economic viability.