Retention and Expansion of a Need-Driven Infrastructure of Regional Commercial Airports and Airfields

1. The perspective of major airports dominates political discussion

The retention and expansion of a comprehensive air traffic infrastructure is presently a controversial discussion topic in Germany with an insufficient database. The perspectives of major airports such as Frankfurt am Main and Munich are dominating the “Initiative for German Air Traffic,” therefore controlling the political discussions on the economic importance of airports.

2. A Need-driven regional air traffic infrastructure is not a false allocation of resources

Due to the growth of low cost air traffic and the resulting increasingly competitive situation for established airlines, the Deutsche Bank Research conducted a study whereby criticizing the expansion projects at regional airports, referring to them as false allocations of resources. In this report, regional airports are evaluated by the number of passengers on scheduled flights and partially on operational losses.

3. Regional airports as locations important to commerce

Aviation-related businesses are based at regional commercial airports and airfields. For example aviation companies operating at the respective aerodromes, flight schools, aircraft manufactures, aeronautical engineering and maintenance companies, aircraft dealers, aviation supply companies, and air freight-related transport companies (freight forwarders, couriers, express and parcel services).

4. Regional airports and airfields as an infrastructure for business aviation

The given possibility for business travelers to conduct quick business trips thanks to the availability of flights to regional airports results in a large economic boost to a region. With around 2000 regional airports throughout Europe, the individual business traveler has a significantly denser network of airfields to choose from than if he were reliant solely on the major airports. Regional airports provide business travelers with many advantages compared to having to use the majors. One important aspect is the flexibility in terms of time. Travelers are able to determine departure and arrival times, have shorter check-in times, and are able to pick their destination without ever having a connecting flight. Regional airports create connections to national and international business centers. As a transportation base, they can play a significant economic role regarding both location- as well as the business factor. Taking into consideration the increasing international integration, the reaching of distant destinations is of growing importance. The Significance of an existing airfield infrastructure to promote the development of the regional economy is best demonstrated by the proven correlation between the assistance requirements and accessibility of regions.

5. Regional airports as business- and location factors for the surrounding areas

Businesses based at regional airports and airfields provide the surrounding area with employment opportunities and income. In addition, the growing political structure of the region supports the securing, expansion, and settling of new businesses as well as the expansion of local tourism.

6. Positive external effects of a comprehensive air traffic infrastructure

Economic profitability criteria for the assessment of the retention and expansion of regional commercial airports and airfields are insufficient. Regional airports, like other infrastructural establishments, serve to transport people and goods. They serve the general economic interests of a region. In other words, they support the social and economic development of the individual regions. These positive external effects of regional airports can not be materialized by private investors. For this reason the sponsors and shareholders are often public authorities.

7. Regional airports generate tax revenues for public authorities

Federation, state, and communities benefit financially from the services rendered at regional airports. These monies exceed the public spending on the investment of the airport infrastructure as well as the losses carried by urban household due to the running operational costs of the aerodromes.

8. Responding to the demands of air transport by means of regional airports is beneficial ecologically and economically

This applies in particular when looking at the exhausted environmental capacities and the burden placed on residents living near major airports like Frankfurt am Main. A few years ago, even Lufthansa requested the expansion of the regional airport network due to rising air traffic demand to relieve their Frankfurt am Main hub. It is preferable to use existing regional capacities rather than pay for the expensive expansion of major airports.