Lois Larson
An airport's catchment area is the geographic region that covers the market served by the airport. It is the area surrounding an airport from which it attracts its passengers. Catchment areas are not static and evolve over time, depending on relative changes in the service offerings of airports. Airports may use methodologies to evaluate the spatial nature of their catchment areas to understand passenger airport choice and the competitive forces in their respective hinterland regions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | An airport catchment area is the area surrounding an airport from which it attracts passengers. |
| Factors Determining Catchment Area Size | Accessibility, service level offered by the airport (fares and frequencies), location, traffic volume of competing airports, purpose of travel, number of travellers in a group, length of trip, destination, preference of airlines, frequent flyer program status. |
| Use Cases | Informing route profitability, marketing efforts, policymaking, healthcare planning, resource allocation, service delivery, accessibility assessment. |
| Considerations | Catchment areas are seldom static and can overlap. |
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What You'll Learn
- Airport catchment areas are sensitive to the location, service level and traffic volume of competing airports
- Catchment areas are determined by passenger needs and the availability of alternative flight services
- Catchment areas are used to estimate route profitability
- The size of a catchment area depends on the driving factors behind passenger airport choice
- Catchment areas are not static, they evolve over time
Airport catchment areas are sensitive to the location, service level and traffic volume of competing airports
An airport's catchment area is the geographic area from which it can reasonably expect to draw commercial air service passengers. This is influenced by several factors, including geographical and access considerations, and the proximity of alternative aviation facilities.
Airport catchment areas are sensitive to the location, service level, and traffic volume of competing airports. Firstly, regarding location, the geographical proximity of an airport to its catchment area is a key factor. Airports located closer to populous areas are likely to have a larger catchment area, as they are more accessible to a greater number of potential passengers. For instance, in the case of Indiana, the local airport, Indianapolis International Airport (IND), experiences traffic leakage to two large hub airports in the neighboring state of Illinois, Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). Passengers may be willing to travel to nearby states to avail themselves of more cost-effective flight itineraries.
Secondly, the service level offered by competing airports plays a role in defining a catchment area. Airports with more comprehensive services, such as a wider range of flight routes, more comfortable facilities, or additional amenities, may attract passengers from beyond their immediate catchment area, potentially drawing passengers away from nearby airports with less extensive services.
Lastly, the traffic volume of competing airports is a factor. Airports with a higher volume of traffic may indicate greater popularity or convenience, potentially drawing passengers from a wider catchment area. Conversely, airports with lower traffic volumes may have a smaller catchment area as passengers may prefer to utilize larger airports, even if they are further away. Estimating the sensitivity of small airport catchments to these factors is crucial for airlines and airport operators to make informed decisions and target potential markets effectively.
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Catchment areas are determined by passenger needs and the availability of alternative flight services
An airport's catchment area is the geographic region that covers the market served by the airport. This area is dynamic and is influenced by several factors, including the availability of alternative flight services and the needs of passengers.
Catchment areas are not static; they evolve over time due to the changing landscape of airport offerings and competition. The development of new regional airports provides passengers with an increasing number of options, resulting in overlapping catchment areas. Airports must now share their potential markets with competitors, impacting the size and scope of their catchment areas.
Passenger needs play a significant role in defining catchment areas. Leisure passengers, for example, may be more price-sensitive and flexible with travel times, expanding their airport options. In contrast, business travellers, who prioritise time efficiency and flight schedules, may have more limited choices. These varying preferences influence the fluid boundaries of catchment areas.
The availability of alternative flight services also comes into play. Airports offering higher service levels to specific destinations or operating in regions with limited airport options may attract passengers from hinterland regions, expanding their catchment area. Conversely, airports with lower service levels compared to competitors may attract fewer passengers from distant regions, resulting in a smaller catchment radius.
Understanding catchment areas is crucial for airports to assess their market share and competitiveness. By evaluating their spatial nature and identifying regions with lower market share, airports can adjust their service offerings and marketing strategies accordingly. Additionally, policymakers utilise projected passenger demand data in their decision-making processes.
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Catchment areas are used to estimate route profitability
An airport's catchment area is the geographic region that covers the market served by the airport. Catchment areas are used to estimate route profitability by helping to identify the regions where market share is relatively low and the reasons behind it. Airports may use methodologies to evaluate the spatial nature of their catchment areas to understand passenger airport choice and the competitive forces in their respective hinterland regions.
The size of an airport's catchment area and its market share within the catchment depend on the driving factors behind passenger airport choice, such as accessibility and the service level offered by the airport in terms of fares and frequencies compared to surrounding airports. Catchment areas are usually depicted in a simplistic manner, but they are not static and evolve over time depending on relative changes in the service offerings of airports.
An accurate estimation of airport catchment areas enables airlines and airport operators to make informed decisions and target potential markets. For example, an airport offering a relatively high service level to a certain destination compared to surrounding airports might attract passengers from hinterland regions over 2 hours away. On the other hand, airports offering a low service level compared to competing airports will probably attract fewer people from distant regions, and a radius of 2 hours might be too large.
Catchment area analysis is also of interest to policymakers as they use projected levels of passenger demand in the decision-making process. Airports can be built and maintained in locations that minimize the driving distance for the surrounding population to reach them. Catchment areas can be modelled using geographic information systems (GIS) to understand the distribution of the population along the rural-urban continuum.
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The size of a catchment area depends on the driving factors behind passenger airport choice
An airport's catchment area is the area surrounding it from which it draws its passengers. The size of this area is determined by the factors that influence passengers' airport choices. These factors include accessibility, service level, and airfares. For instance, an airport offering superior services to a particular destination compared to its competitors might attract passengers from hinterland regions over 2 hours away. Conversely, an airport with inferior services will likely attract fewer passengers from distant regions, and a 2-hour radius might be too large.
Catchment areas are not static and evolve over time as service offerings change. Airports with more competition from nearby airports will have smaller catchment areas. The development of more regional airports has increased airport choice for passengers, causing catchment areas to overlap. This means that airports must share the market in their catchment area with other airports.
The primary drivers of airport choice in a multi-airport market are price, air service quality, airline/alliance loyalty, and airport ground access. Other factors include parking availability and cost, airport service quality, flight frequency, nonstop flights, airline loyalty programs, previous experience, airport capacity constraints, group travel, aircraft type, and flight time. Passengers are highly sensitive to access time, with even small changes inducing shifts in demand. Business travelers, in particular, are less willing to drive long distances to an airport and are generally willing to pay higher airfares for reduced travel time.
Catchment area analysis is valuable for airports and airlines in making informed decisions and targeting potential markets. It is also useful for policymakers in projecting levels of passenger demand for decision-making.
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Catchment areas are not static, they evolve over time
An airport's catchment area is the geographic region from which it draws its passengers. This area is influenced by various factors such as accessibility, service levels, fares, frequencies, and competition from other airports. As such, catchment areas are not static but rather dynamic and evolving.
The development of new regional airports provides passengers with an increasing number of options, resulting in overlapping catchment areas. Airports now have to compete for market share within their catchment areas, and the size of these areas can fluctuate over time. For instance, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol's market share within its catchment area declined between 2005 and 2011 due to increased competition from neighbouring airports.
Catchment areas can also be influenced by the purpose of travel. Leisure passengers tend to be more price-sensitive and flexible with their airport choices, while business travellers are often more concerned with flight schedules and trip duration. Consequently, airport catchment boundaries are fluid, adapting to passengers' needs and the availability of alternative flight services.
Furthermore, catchment areas can be modelled using geographic information systems (GIS), which take into account travel time and the distribution of the population along the rural-urban continuum. Airports can utilise GIS technology to strategically position themselves to minimise driving distances for their surrounding populations.
The dynamic nature of catchment areas is also evident in their evolution over time. Airports can employ methodologies to evaluate the spatial nature of their catchment areas, allowing them to understand passenger behaviour and make informed decisions regarding service offerings. By analysing catchment areas, airports can identify regions with low market share and adjust their strategies accordingly.
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Frequently asked questions
An airport's catchment area is the geographic region that covers the market served by the airport. It is the area surrounding the airport from which it attracts its passengers.
Catchment areas are determined by a number of factors, including the location, service level, and traffic volume of competing airports nearby, the purpose of travel, the number of travellers in a group, the length of the trip, the destination, the preference of airlines, and frequent flyer program status.
Airports can use various analytical tools, such as the Travel Utility Analysis tool, to calculate the likely responses of travellers to different market and operational inputs, thus forecasting potential catchment areas. Airports can also evaluate the spatial nature of their catchment areas to understand passenger airport choice and the competitive forces in their hinterland regions.
