Cargo market competition among Asia Pacific's major airports

Globalization and the ensuing changes in the supply chain network have strengthened competition among airports. For this study, we selected 13 primary airports in Asia Pacific, and investigated their competition, airport hierarchy, and competitive potential in cargo markets in terms of demand and supply. Specifically, we examined indicators including flight frequency, route distributions, composition of flag carriers, international trade, and centrality of the selected airports. The results revealed that Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), and Incheon International Airport (ICN) had the greatest competitive advantage of distinct developmental patterns. Compared with TPE and ICN, which are national-carrier-oriented airports, HKG and PVG have been developed efficiently in the network of both national and foreign carriers. Although TPE and ICN perform well in the networks of conventional carriers, PVG is competitive in the network of all-freight carriers, and HKG performs efficiently in both the networks of the conventional and all-freight carriers. Overall, Hong Kong International Airport has been prominent in the Asia-Pacific air-cargo market. Nevertheless, considering the networks of the integrator carriers, Chinese airports have the most potential in this region.