Air transportation is one of the world’s most important industries. Its development and its technical and service achievements make it one of the greatest contributors to the advancement of modern society. It plays an increasingly vital role in facilitating economic growth, particularly in developing countries and regions. Better understanding the nature of air transportation system and the role that air transport and airports play in an urban agglomeration is critical because the 'accessibility through airports’ issue has assumed an elevating role in answering the 'how’ and 'where’ of the geography of economic activity in the modern economy. This paper focuses on the economics of airports. It examines advantages enjoyed by passengers having access to a major airport, as well as the economic benefits that accrue to a city or geographical region that is host to a major airport, especially a hub airport. In particular, it looks into the linkages between airport-related activities and local economic development. By facilitating the flow of people and commerce, air transports and airports play a pivotal role in the industrial expansion and economic growth, both through their own activities and as an enabler of other industries. Airports essentially have four potential types of impact on the regional economy. The primary and secondary effects of airports are fulfilled through: 1) employment and income generated by airports and supporting activities, 2) employment and income generated by air passengers who make expenditures on travel-related services in local areas, and 3) induced economic activities as a consequence of the successive rounds of spending made by the recipients of the first two types of activities. These benefits can be extremely important to a local economy in terms of employment, household income and, for local government, taxation revenue. The tertiary effects of airports stemed from the economic stimulus benefiting a local or regional economy as firms and individuals, particularly high-technology companies, are attracted to the locale due to the fact that majors of airport and high-quality air transport are available. High-technology jobs and other administrative and auxiliary-related jobs have grown considerably in the region of major airport activities. By initially attracting key businesses to an area in sufficient numbers, airport development can lead to the crossing of important thresholds in terms of economies of scale, scope and density, through which a region can acquire a vital knowledge base to foster local development and make the region quasi-independent of others. The regional economy can feed on this to further its high-technology activities and hence to accelerate its growth (perpetuity effects).
SONG Wei, YANG Ka
. The Impacts of Air Transportation and Airport on Regional Economic Development[J]. SCIENTIA GEOGRAPHICA SINICA, 2006
, 26(6)
: 649
-657
.
DOI: 10.13249/j.cnki.sgs.2006.06.649
[1] Air Transport Action Group (ATAG).The Economic and Social Benefits of Air Transport[R].Geneva,Switzerland,2005.
[2] Bell M E,Feitelson E U S.Economic restructuring and demand for transportation services[J].Transportation Quarterly,1991,45(4):517-538.
[3] Button K J,Lall S.The economic of being an airline hub city[A].MacMullen S.Research in Transportation Economics Volume5[C].Stamford,CN:JAI Press,1999.75-106.
[4] Button K,Lall S,Stough R.High-technology employment and hub airports[J].Journal of Air Transport Management,1999,5(1):53-59.
[5] Button K,Taylor S.International air transportation and economic development[J].Journal of Air Transport Management,2000,6(4):209-222.
[6] Debbage K G.Air transportation and urban-economic restructuring:competitive advantage in the U.S.Carolinas[J].Journal of Air Transport Management,1999,5(4):211-221.
[7] Goetz A R.Air passenger transportation and growth in the U.S.urban system,1950-1987[J].Growth and Change,1992,23(2):217-238.
[8] Irwin M D,Kasarda J D.Air passenger linkages and employment growth in U.S.metropolitan areas[J].American Sociological Review,1991,56(4):524-537.
[9] Ivy R L,Fik T J,Malecki E J.Changes in air service connectivity and employment[J].Environment and Planning A,1995,27(2):165-179.
[10] Van den Berg L,Van Klink H A,Pol P M J.Airports as centres of economic growth[J].Transport Reviews,1996,16 (1):55-65.
[11] Nooteboom B.Innovation,learning,and industrial organization[J].Cambridge Journal of Economics,1999,23 (2):127-150.
[12] Button K,Stough R.Air Transport Network:Theory and Policy Implications[M].Cheltenham,UK:Edward Elgar,2000.
[13] Aschauer D A.Why is infrastructure important?[A].Munnell A H.Is There a Shortfall in Public Capital Investment?[C].Boston,MA:Federal Reserve Bank of Boston,1990,21-50.
[14] Hanlon P.Global Airlines:Competition in a Transnational Industry (2nd ed)[M].Jordon Hill,Oxford:Butterworth-Heinemann,1999.
[15] Airports Council International (ACI)-North America.The Economic Impact of U.S.Airports[R].Washington,D C,2002.
[16] Houston Airport System.2003 Economic Impact Study[R].City of Houston Aviation Department,2004.
[17] Massey D.Spatial Divisions of Labour[M].London:Macmillian,1984.
[18] Storper M,Walker R.The theory of labor and the theory of location[J].International Journal of Urban and Regional Research,1983,7(1):1-44.
[19] Heenan D A.The New Corporate Frontier[M].New York:McGraw-Hill,1991.
[20] Scott A J.New Industrial Spaces:Flexible Production Organization and Regional Development in North America and Western Europe[M].London:Pion,1988.
[21] Dahmann D C.Subjective assessments of neighborhood quality by size of place[J].Urban Studies,1983,20(1):31-45.
[22] Malecki E J.The R&D location decision of the firm and creative regions-a survey[J].Technovation,1987,6(3):205-222.
[23] Oakey R P.High-technology industry and agglomeration economies[A].Hall P,Markuen A.Silicon Landscape[C].Winchester,M A:Allen and Unwin,1985.
[24] Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.International Air Service as A Location Determinant for Foreign Business[R].Atlanta,Georgia,1988.
[25] Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.The Economic Value of International Air Service to Atlanta and Georgia[R].Atlanta,Georgia,1988.
[26] Debbage K G,Delk D.The geography of air passenger volume and local employment patterns by US metropolitan core area:1973-1996[J].Journal of Air Transport Management,2001,7(3):159-167.
[27] 王法辉,金凤君,曾光.中国航空客运网络的空间演化模式研究[J].地理科学,2003,23(6):519～524.
[28] 王为人.临海与临空经济区发展的国际经验与上海南汇东滩开发的产业定位[J].世界地理研究,2001,(12):47～53.
[29] 北京市顺义区统计局.顺义统计(2004,2005)[M].北京:中国统计出版社,2006.
[30] 北京市统计局.北京统计年鉴1994～2005[M].北京:中国统计出版社,2006.
[31] 单增友.天竺全力发展"临空"产业[N].农民日报,2005-10-07.
