Intercontinental air passenger connections from northern Europe

: Inkinen T, Pyyhtia M

: 16th International Conference of Hong Kong Society for Transportation Studies

: 2011

: Proceedings of the 16th International Conference of Hong Kong Society for Transportation Studies

: TRANSPORT DYNAMICS

: 351

: 358

: 8

: 978-988-98847-9-6

This paper analyzes the airline network geography of the Northern Europe in selected case locations. Airline companies and alliances organize themselves according to economic principles attempting to reconcile their profitability, state control, and the passenger needs. States have interests in controlling airline transportation, because the connectivity of cities functions as an instrument for local economic development. Our paper presents two estimations of international airline connectivity from the cities of Copenhagen, Helsinki, Oslo, Riga, and Stockholm. The data concerns passenger seats per flight per destination. We measured connectivity based on a network analysis. A gravity model was also formulated to explain divergent geographic airline connections. The geographical divergence is essentially visible intercontinental flights. We conclude by addressing the future prospects of the selected case flight hub specialization.