Citation

deBettencourt J, Dittmar H, Perl A. World Transp. Policy Pract. 2004; 10(1): 15-21.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Eco-Logica)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article examines air service changes at U.S. commercial service airports from October 1, 2001 through September 30, 2003, to determine whether the U.S. air transportation network is experiencing structural change, as opposed to the cyclical variation in activity that has been common in this transport mode. Almost all U.S. airports saw fewer flights in the year following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. While many interpretations have attributed these airline schedule reductions to a discrete systemic shock that would eventually be eclipsed by a return to air travel's historic growth trend, several signs point to these changes representing the 'take-off' phase of a fundamental industry restructuring whose roots predate the 9/11 attacks. A second year of data on flight frequencies and capacity post 9/11 provides further evidence supporting this hypothesis. Our findings correspond with a recent economic analysis of airlines' financial performance attributing post 9-11 restructuring efforts to unsustainable structural factors, representing a 'more systemic industry crisis' that predated the 9-11 attacks (Nolan, et. al., 2004, 239).

Keywords
9/11, airlines, airports, aviation, low-cost carriers, 'regional jets', restructuring, terrorism, travel.