Quantitative evaluation model of air cargo competitiveness and comparative analysis of major Asia-Pacific airports

This study develops a quantitative evaluation model for analyzing air cargo competitiveness of airports. First, according to a literature review and expert opinions, quantitative measures for evaluating air cargo competitiveness are derived using the Delphi method. Then the weights and value functions of these measures are obtained through expert questionnaire surveys. Applying the value functions to the operational data of different airports yields the value of each measure. Finally, multiplying the values with their corresponding weights sheds light on the competitiveness of individual and overall measures. Comparison of major Asia-Pacific airports is made in terms of different dimensions of air cargo competitiveness. The analysis results reveal that Hong Kong is the most competitive in terms of airline transport capacity and economic development while Changi is the most competitive with respect to airport facilities and operation. As for overall air cargo competitiveness, Hong Kong ranked top, followed by Changi, Pudong, Incheon, Taoyuan, Bangkok, Narita, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Manila International Airports. Findings of this study can provide airports with useful references for operation management and formulation of development strategies.