International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning - Special Issue

What is the role of regional airports in the current air transport framework? The answer is not simple and requires looking at the extraordinary growth of air transport all over the world during the past few decades. Air transport is faster than other transport modes, capable of transporting passengers and goods to the most remote countries. It can also be an engine to promote the economic development of a region. Airline deregulation started first in the USA, followed by the EU and afterwards in other countries, has further facilitated the growth of air traffic. Air transport has become accessible to more people thanks to increased frequencies and lower fares partly resulting from competition among airlines. The next step, ie airport deregulation, is expected to produce still more benefits to all the main stakeholders, ie airlines, passengers and airports themselves. This special issue collects papers dealing with regional airport topics such as environmental impacts and their evaluation, airport economics and location, airport network configuration, traveler air choices and regulatory tendencies, but also social and cultural aspects not always discussed in the literature.