A 2021 study conducted by Tuzun Tolga Inan and Neslihan Gökmen examined the key factors determining air transport volumes in 28 countries worldwide. Applying Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) methodology, the researchers identified latent relationships between passenger traffic and parameters such as GDP, population size, and the Human Development Index (HDI).
The results demonstrated that GDP and HDI exert a statistically significant influence on passenger traffic (p < 0.05). A one US dollar increase in GDP leads to a 0.981 unit increase in passenger traffic, while a one-unit increase in HDI reduces it by 0.057 units. This decrease associated with HDI is likely attributable to the development of alternative transportation modes.
A key finding was the confirmation of geographic location's significance. Countries situated in strategically important locations (e.g., the UK, Turkey, and Brazil) exhibit high passenger traffic, even with average economic indicators. Conversely, Nigeria (with low GDP and HDI values) and Japan (with a high HDI but a well-developed rail network) were among the countries with relatively low passenger traffic.
Data visualization using MDS confirmed that the USA, China, and India form distinct clusters, which is explained by the huge scale of these countries. Turkey and Brazil, in turn, were found to be close in terms of their transportation role.
In conclusion, the study emphasizes that geographic location is a crucial factor determining air transport volumes. Even countries with modest economic indicators can become major transportation hubs by effectively leveraging their geographic advantage. For airlines, this opens up opportunities for exploring new markets.
The results demonstrated that GDP and HDI exert a statistically significant influence on passenger traffic (p < 0.05). A one US dollar increase in GDP leads to a 0.981 unit increase in passenger traffic, while a one-unit increase in HDI reduces it by 0.057 units. This decrease associated with HDI is likely attributable to the development of alternative transportation modes.
A key finding was the confirmation of geographic location's significance. Countries situated in strategically important locations (e.g., the UK, Turkey, and Brazil) exhibit high passenger traffic, even with average economic indicators. Conversely, Nigeria (with low GDP and HDI values) and Japan (with a high HDI but a well-developed rail network) were among the countries with relatively low passenger traffic.
Data visualization using MDS confirmed that the USA, China, and India form distinct clusters, which is explained by the huge scale of these countries. Turkey and Brazil, in turn, were found to be close in terms of their transportation role.
In conclusion, the study emphasizes that geographic location is a crucial factor determining air transport volumes. Even countries with modest economic indicators can become major transportation hubs by effectively leveraging their geographic advantage. For airlines, this opens up opportunities for exploring new markets.
