UK Regional Connectivity on the North Atlantic: Hub-Bypassing or just changing hubs?

摘要

London Heathrow Airport (LHR) has maintained its position as the main gateway for UK passengers for international services, but has no services to many UK regional airports. This research examines whether UK regional airports have increased direct services to North Atlantic destinations or to other European hub airports in response to the lack of air services to the London area. The study analysed the changing dynamics of the UK aviation network from 1997 to 2017 as it pertains to hub connectivity and North Atlantic services. Both the number of connections from regional airports and the quality of those connections, measured in terms of the frequency of direct air services, have been examined. As most LCC passengers do not connect to other flights, only flights by full service carriers to both London and selected European hubs were considered.The data indicate that regional airport connectivity development has been heterogeneous. Whilst the number of UK regional airports with service to LHR has remained stable, the frequency of service has decreased noticeably. The larger and more geographically distant regional airports of Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Manchester have been able to develop more connections to both European hub airports and to North American cities, and in many cases have seen an increase in frequencies as well. Birmingham Airport, although of similar size to the above-mentioned airports, has on the contrast experienced a reduction in its connections to North American airports and of frequency to the European hub airports examined. Smaller UK regional airports have also seen a reduction in frequencies to European airports.