The changing nature of the airport-airline relationship

Anne Graham and Nigel Halpern

Chapter 18 in Research Handbook on Air Transport Management, 2026, pp 237-247 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter considers the complex and dynamic airport-airline environment, which is determined by the ever-evolving airport-airline relationship. It begins by assessing the role played by airport charges levied on airlines. These regularly cause friction between these two industry bodies in terms of what is a reasonable price for the airport services provided, and additionally what type of economic regulation, if any, should be applied. Discounts on airport charges are also frequently offered to incentivise airlines to operate out of airports, to increase their number of services, or to encourage their airport loyalty and commitment. Such pricing often forms part of the wider process called route development, which is then discussed, when there may be the need to go beyond the airport-airline relationship to develop tripartite marketing partnerships with other bodies such as local governments, tourist authorities or destination management organisations. This leads to consideration of other key areas where increasingly airports and airlines are working together. A top priority concerns net zero aspirations and other sustainability goals. Another important and linked area is technological and digital innovations. Finally, the chapter draws all these debates together by assessing what makes a successful airport and airline relationship by evaluating what airlines and airports really want from each other; evolving airport and airline business models; economic challenges; competitive forces; and external influences.

Keywords: Airport; Airline; Relationship; Charges; Facilities; Sustainability; Technology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035336272
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.elgaronline.com/doi/10.4337/9781035336289.00029 (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:elg:eechap:23436_19

Ordering information: This item can be ordered from
http://www.e-elgar.com

Access Statistics for this chapter

More chapters in Chapters from Edward Elgar Publishing
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Jack Sweeney ().