A Comparative Analysis of Productivity Performance of the World's Major Airports: Summary Report of the ATRS Global Airport Benchmarking Research Report--2002*

This paper compares productive efficiency for 50 major airports in Asia Pacific, Europe and North America by computing gross total factor productivity (TFP), further analysing TFP by regression models, and then computing ‘residual’ TFP after removing the effects of the factors largely beyond managerial control. The results reveal: larger airports are expected to achieve higher gross TFP because of the economies of scale in airport operations, not necessarily because they are more efficient than smaller airports; airports with a larger percentage of international traffic are expected to have lower gross TFP levels; an airport's ownership structure does not appear to have any statistically significant effect on its productivity performance; airports with higher passenger satisfaction level does not appear to have lower productivity; an airport that diversify and expand their non-aeronautical activities such as concessions and other commercial services are likely to achieve a higher TFP level; airports with capacity constraints are expected to have a higher TFP level although it will impose delays on aircraft and passengers.