2134/4050
Yuen-Chong (Derek/Derrick) Wong
Yuen-Chong
Wong
David Pitfield
David
Pitfield
Ian M. Humphreys
Ian M.
Humphreys
The impact of regional jets on air service at selected US airports and markets
Loughborough University
2008
Regional jets
Air service
Aircraft development strategy
Hub and spoke
Hub-bypassing
Airline competition
Turboprop replacement
Small communities
Built Environment and Design not elsewhere classified
2008-12-10 11:31:25
Journal contribution
https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/journal_contribution/The_impact_of_regional_jets_on_air_service_at_selected_US_airports_and_markets/9452228
Regional jets, normally defined as jet aircraft introduced since 1993 with less than 100 seats, have been
thought to have significant impacts on air services at airports, for example, in improving service
frequency, allowing airlines to exploit niche markets and to feed hubs. Previous studies have focused
on regional jet deployment strategy and the overall situation and they suggest that deployment was
generally to larger cities first and, in addition, to locations east of the Mississippi. It has also been
suggested that smaller airports might lose service when regional jets replace turbo-props and that
carrier competition would increase, to the benefit of the consumer.
This paper aims to throw more light on these issues from the individual airports’ point of view. Data on
changes in schedules from the Official Airline Guide (OAG) at a series of case study airports from
1994 to 2002 is used to examine, the impacts on new route development, market dynamics, carrier
competition and concentration and deployment status. In particular, the impact on smaller airports is
examined.
It is concluded, subject to the usual caveats on sample size, that there is little evidence of a uniform
impact on routes or airports. The aggregate picture often described by the industry and government is
shown to be a combination of highly dissimilar cases. A spectrum of effects is identified across
different types of airports and routes but some of the anticipated trends, such as hub bypassing, are not
observed. Some airports reaped significant benefits in terms of improved frequency and services to new
destinations, whilst others gained little.