Passenger recovery after an airport closure at tourist destinations: A case study of Palma de Mallorca airport

Abstract

In the context of increased concern about the resilience of critical transport infrastructure to external events and the impact of such events on local tourism industries, this paper analyzes the ability of tourism-oriented airports to relocate departing passengers in the event of an unexpected airport closure. A case study of Palma de Mallorca Airport is presented. Using an MIDT dataset on passenger itineraries in August 2014, several closure scenarios are simulated, and disrupted passengers are relocated to minimum-delay itineraries. Aggregate delays and relocation rates are used to assess the impact of each scenario, with a particular focus on UK and Germany markets. The results provide useful benchmarks for the development of policies aimed at minimizing the impact on stranded tourists, such as allowing for passenger connections, establishing a protocol for interline cooperation, and improving intermodal transfers. These measures will help mitigate the negative impacts on airline loyalty and destination image.

Determinants of passenger loyalty in multi-airport regions: Implications for tourism destination

“…It should be noted that the image of the airport also influences the expectations for all but frequent passengers. This finding may have implications for the tourist destinations (Pizam, 2017;Voltes-Dorta et al, 2017). These three drivers of loyalty, although recognized as very important for business organizations wishing to be competitive globally, have not been valued in the literature related to airport management.…”

“…In the airport context, there is scarce evidence of the effects of airport image on passengers´ perceptions and attitudes (Ali et al, 2016;Nesset and Helgesen, 2014;Pantouvakis and Renzi, 2016). These effects can also have short and long-term implications for the tourism destination (Pizam, 2017;Voltes-Dorta et al, 2017).…”

“…In today´s global marketplace, the tourist experience with transportations is a key element for their overall experience (Volo, 2009). As such, airports became central elements of the tourism services chain, as they can represent the first and last impression of the tourism destination (Voltes-Dorta, Rodríguez-Déniz, & Suau-Sanchez, 2017;Wattanacharoensil, Schuckert, & Graham, 2016). They are also environmental variables in the hotel location decision, planning, and management (Hu et al, 2010;Song and Ko, 2017).…”

COVID19: Holiday intentions during a pandemic

“…Tourism-related literature has examined a series of effects generated by disasters and crises. More specifically, several previous studies focused on crises and evaluated numerous issues such as business efficiency ( Pearce II and Michael, 2006 ; Olthetena, Sougiannis, Travlos, & Zarkos, 2013 ), productivity aspects ( Mar-Molinero, Menéndez-Plans, & Orgaz-Guerrero, 2017 ; Yépez, 2017 ), operational ability ( Akrivos, Reklitis, & Theodoroyiani, 2014 ; Epstein, Shapiro, & Gómez, 2017 ) competitiveness ( Cirstea, 2014 ; Pappas, 2015 ), innovation output ( García-Pozo, Sanchez-Ollero, & Ons-Cappa, 2016 ; Naidoo, Ramseook-Munhurrun, & Seetaram, 2011 ), and enterprising cooperation ( Okumus & Karamustafa, 2005 ; Voltes-Dorta, Rodríguez-Deniz, & Suau-Sanchez, 2017 ). However, the literature is predominantly silent upon the examination of holiday intentions during crises, let alone an unprecedented crisis like COVID19.…”

Málaga Costa del Sol airport and its new conceptualization of hinterland

“…Airports and airlines at tourist destinations operate with other means of transportation. According to Voltes-Dorta et al (2017) claim that the destination airport needs to include other stakeholders, such as harbours and rail operators from the main passenger markets.…”