Loading...
9 results
Search Results
Now showing 1 - 9 of 9
- Air Transport Performance and Global Decision AnalysisPublication . Baltazar, Maria Emília da Silva; Silva, Jorge Miguel dos ReisSince the beginning of aviation, airports have played a pivotal role in Aeronautical Engineering. The airport concept has changed a lot over the past century from small airfields to international hubs. These airport infrastructures have played a significant role in the economic development of the regions they operate. The emergence of the airport city concept as a new successful organisational model suggests that any infrastructure of this kind to be competitive should adopt it. With all its inputs and outputs, the airport industry significantly influences the global economy. The balance between the public interest in general, shareholders, and airport operators must seek to be reconciled. I was investigated how it would be possible to determine whether an airport would have the expected impact on the economy at different scales. Those scales could be that of a continent, a country, a region, or even a city and establish the decision criteria for building (or not) new airport infrastructures and making improvements (or not) in them. Searching for tools that would allow an appropriate evaluation of the management processes of an airport, the measurement of the position of the airport compared to its counterparts (benchmarking) is essential. However, the complexity of the models used makes this tool unfriendly for airport administration. Apart from that, the essential focus of this type of study is the land side of the airport. Nevertheless, there are other types of studies for evaluating the performance of airport processes. Still, these are also complex and do not involve all operational, financial and agent components near the airport. The studies review reinforces the idea that a global analytical tool is essential to find the global perspective (airside, landside, and agents) of any airport's performance beyond the challenges that will be put to them soon and a complete benchmark of direct competitors. The construction of a new methodology requires that airport, land, and airside infrastructures be considered, and agents near the airport, customers, shareholders and airport operators. Thus, a well-founded analysis for a Global Decision Analysis (GDA) incorporates all the infrastructure stakeholders' interconnections in a single tool. GDA is, therefore, friendlier to stakeholders given the management and optimization of decisions based on an analysis system based on the MACBETH multi-criteria methodology, the PESA-AGB. This tool was built and applied to an airport with dimensions identical to Lisbon airport, demonstrating and comparing the evolution of performance and efficiency over 11 years from 2003 to 2013 by six key performance areas of the airport and the respective key performance indicators. The development of an airport efficiency tag for each year of assessment was implemented. An APE-Label implementation, applied to any airport, is presented, and discussed in this study regardless of its size and location. The main obstacle to implementing this APE-Label is the heterogeneity of the airport infrastructure since it differs in the number of runways for public, private or even public-private property, among others. However, with the PESA-AGB methodology, it was possible to mitigate this factor. The main proposal is to provide a graphical APE-Label that informs all interested parties which infrastructure assessment is analysed across the six key performance areas each year that will help to maximize performance and efficiency standards. For the airport case study, a self-benchmarking analysis was carried out for the airport's study with distinctive characteristics representing the central Portuguese air infrastructure. The airport in study is considered the largest in terms of passengers, movements and cargo and is associated with Lisbon airport. Finally, the results of PESA-AGB and GDA have been presented in two visual analysis panels. The dashboards and the GDA report and recommendation are prepared.
- Airports Catchment Area Size Definition: a Portuguese Case StudyPublication . Baltazar, Maria Emilia; Silva, JorgeThe definition of the Catchment Area of an airport is very broad and current literature suggests doing it in combination with certain pre-defined criteria: the assessment of the impact or effectiveness of a certain airport, or from the perspective of competition between airports. This paper aims to assess the validity of the hinterland defined by the Portuguese airport manager, ANA - Aeroportos de Portugal. A case study was developed involving the three main national airports: Lisbon (LIS), Oporto (OPO) and Faro (FAO). ANA defined the hinterland of each airport. Thus, a survey was developed to the companies located within the hinterland of every airport aiming to understand the existence of any relationship between them and the closest airport. We followed a stratified sample method to determine the size of the survey. We only considered import and export companies with the highest business volumes. Data analysis was performed using GIS (Geographic Information System), that is a software, spatial data and computational procedures system that enables and facilitates the analysis, management and representation of space and phenomena that occur in it. We collected a total of 243 surveys. The main conclusion of the study was that the calculation of an airport’s hinterland based exclusively on the travel time or distance is, potentially, misleading. It is proposed the use of other factors. The validity of such a method and practice raises some doubts. The actual distribution of economic activities and population is ignored as well as the mutual influence of several airports. Further research is now needed to calculate airports actual influence.
- Global decision support for airport performance and efficiency assessmentPublication . Baltazar, Maria; Rosa, Tiago; Silva, JorgeAirport benchmarking depends on airport performance and efficiency indicators, and it is an important issue for business, operational management, regulatory agencies, airlines and passengers. Using the MACBETH (Measuring Attractiveness by a Categorical Based Evaluation Technique) approach, a hierarchical additive value model is constructed with criteria weights and value scales derived from expert's judgments (obtained by an online survey) and by comparison of different reference levels and profiles of performance. This model measures airport performance and efficiency and also peer benchmarks it within a set of direct competitors or self-benchmarks itself during a specified period. GDS (Global Decision Support) model outputs, integrated into a management system, allows the identification of deficiencies requiring urgent intervention and corrective measures for its continuous improvement.
- Air Budjet: a VTOL virtual operator company in PortugalPublication . Duarte, Manuel Mendes; Baltazar, Maria Emilia; Silva, J.Creation of sustainable transportation service for a new and virtual airline company that uses VTOL aircraft in order to increase mobility and flexibility in Portugal. This study started with the VTOL concepts, peripherally and accessibility, and business models and plans reviews. The air service characterization was then carried out using localization and trajectory optimization algorithms, thus allowing to elaborate two applications (software): one for clients to book their flights and another that compiles flight's data booked by clients and optimizes flights routes/trajectories. With this study, it is possible to depict the viability of the economic-financial results of the new virtual company and the application development results with the optimized trajectories. The development of this air service will increase accessibility and mobility in all regions of Portugal and companies that cannot afford the costs of executive aviation, too. In order to facilitate the booking of the flights, an application was created for the client in order to optimize the company costs related to this air service, and thus to make the cost of a trip more appealing; a second application was elaborated that optimizes the trajectories of the aircraft.
- The concept of aerotropolis applied to a medium-sized city and its airportPublication . Carmo, João Jóia do; Silva, Jorge; Baltazar, Maria EmiliaMovements in Faro airport have been on a constant rise even exceeding the airport capacity. Faro city has grown in the same proportion. Both occurred in a pattern that can be applied to compare with the development of an Aerotropolis. At least three steps must be taken to develop an effective Aerotropolis plan. First, the catchment area is determined based on the existing transportation network and 60-minute travel time from the airport. Second, several socioeconomic indicators within the catchment area are evaluated through different periods using GIS software. Third, catchment area and socioeconomic indicators for the Faro region are compared with layouts obtained from several examples of Aerotropolises in Europe. The Aerotropolis model created by John Kasarda has been used in several regions across Europe. One key aspect of this model is determining whether the region evolved along with the airport throughout the years. Faro, its airport and surrounding areas, are not an exception. Thus, it is possible to identify Faro development patterns of growth useful for several stakeholders: administrative authorities, airport authorities, and territory planners. Faro airport movements have been on a constant rise. Faro city has grown, probably, in the same proportion. Both growths can be compared with an Aerotropolis development. Identifying development patterns of growth will be useful for: those responsible for the distribution of services in the territory; those who oversee the airport operation and expansion; those who are responsible for combining the interests of all for the regional development.
- Low-Cost Carriers Socio-Economic Impact in Tourism Development: The Case of Faro’s Airport HinterlandPublication . Rosado, Tiago; Baltazar, Maria; Silva, JorgeDue to airline market deregulation in Europe LCC’s (Low-Cost Carriers) depicts a fast growth in the last decade and it’s expected that this growth continues in the next years. Also, thisEuropean airline market change has affected the way many airports operate and it’s likely that thischange impacts not only airports performance and efficiency, but also its hinterland. Tourism development is one of the main beneficiaries of this new paradigm. Airport hinterland definition is very broad.Traditionally hinterland is measured by several kilometres’ radiuscentred on the airport or a certain travel time from one pointto the airport. However, this definition may be considered too simplistic because there are other indicators that can determine such influence area.Therefore, current literature prefers to do it in combination with certain pre-defined criteria: airport impact or effectiveness assessment, or a tourism destination perspective. This paper presents a study on airport hinterland socio-economic activity, with emphasis on tourism development due to LCC operations. Thestudy analyses socio-economic indicators from 2006 to 2012, a period whichrepresents the full operation entry and evolution of LCC’s in the Portuguese south airport of Faro. Results are aligned with the expectations created by literature review as well by the empirical preliminary analysis from the case study, showing a possible correlation between LCC movements and some hinterland indicators with direct impact on the tourism sector.
- CDM description and operational implementation challengesPublication . Netto, Omar; Silva, Jorge; Baltazar, Maria EmiliaThe purpose of this research is to discuss a subject that, today, is a significant challenger of all the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) signatory countries: the implementation of the Performance Improvement Areas preconized in the Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP). To achieve the objective of providing a better understanding of Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM) processes the strategy chosen was to present the vision and implementation of the main entities representing the aviation area, such as the didactic form as the article is sequenced and the case studies discussed will present solutions for countries that aren’t so advanced in the implementation of their A-CDM operational processes. Also, the article will act as a guide for all stakeholders. The contribution of the research will be to provide further support to all stakeholders in the air transport sector, regarding basic knowledge and more technical approaches of compliance with the recommended guidelines for the next decades in GANP. ICAO. In this specific case, regarding Performance Improvement Area: Airport Operations and the A-CDM module.
- Optimizing process of airport passengers flowPublication . Gonçalves, J.; Silva, J.; Baltazar, Maria EmiliaThe increased demand for air transportation has enlarged congestion problems in the areas of Passenger Terminals. This study proposes how to optimize the flows of passengers at the airport of Madeira to increase airport efficiency. There are two specific approaches to achieve this study objective. Firstly, we analyse the flow of passengers at the airport terminal to detect where are the most critical congestion points. Secondly, using simulation software (MassMotion) we analyse different layouts of the airport terminal, including ramp area, considering passengers flows of different typologies, to find the most efficient layout configuration. This study optimizes the flow of passengers in the terminal area of the International Airport of Madeira, making it more efficient in routing passengers and thus maintaining control over congestion levels. Thus, the proposed configurations for Check-in, Security, Border Control, Boarding Gates, Embark, Disembark, and Luggage Claim areas allow to considerably reduce (or even eliminate) passenger congestion at these critical points. An airport is a complex transport infrastructure, and therefore any change in its physical structure must be made during its period of operation. Structural modifications must be simulated in software to be validated before being implemented; this was the option of Madeira International Airport, which thus seeks solutions to keep congestion levels under control, increase the efficiency of the terminal, and raise the level of passenger satisfaction.
- Spanish airports performance and efficiency benchmarkPublication . Martinez Ferrer, Pablo; Baltazar, Maria Emilia; Silva, J.This study uses a MCDA tool to analyse and improve Spanish airports performance and efficiency. Thus, a holistic study using MACBETH (with PESA-AGB) is used. This study has never been applied before in Spanish airports. Firstly, a literature review related to this study keywords is conducted, as well as about benchmarking concept applied specifically to airports. Secondly, several methodologies in used to benchmark airports are reviewed and compared. Thirdly, airport performance and efficiency issues are addressed and described. Finally, the MCDA-MACBETH (with PESA-AGB) tool is applied to 4 Spanish airports. Spanish airports belonging to AENA transported 263,753,406 passengers in 2018 with an increase compared to 2017 of 5.8%. General data enables to conclude that Spanish air transportation system is growing annually and hence there is the need to improve airports performance and efficiency, also to maintain the high levels of quality to address the growing demand. Spanish air transportation system is growing annually and is it upmost important to maintain high levels of quality to address such demand. Through this study, performance and efficiency improvements are seek within several airport key areas such as Safety and Security, Quality Service, Productivity and Effectiveness, Financial and Environment. As far as known, this study has never been applied before in Spanish airports.