Analysis model to quantify potential factors in the growth of air cargo logistics in airports

This paper presents an analysis model that allows evaluating the growth opportunities of air cargo in an airport. For this, a model which identifies the elements that affect the capacity of an airport to attract cargo operations and air cargo airlines has been developed. The identification of the elements of the model has been performed through a sectoral review of air cargo, an analysis of the entire logistics chain including the physical flow, the documentary flow, and all the agents involved in it. The analysis of the logistics chain has been carried out from the operational, technological, socio-economic and environmental standpoint, considering all the factors that influence the competitiveness of the logistics chain. Specifically, the operational characteristics that an air cargo transport requires both at the airport infrastructure and the logistics operators level, the technologies for the handling of freight and its control (on land and on-board) have been examined. Other characteristics include the different types of products transported according to their characteristics, the associated supply chains considering locations and routes with their origins and destinations, and the existing markets with the main demands of each type of merchandise. The model has been developed by using the Analytic Hierarchy Process methodology with absolute measurements. This methodology considers the judgements of experts in terms of the weightings of the different factors and attributes that constitute the model. The Zaragoza airport has been used for the model assessment. Furthermore, minimum thresholds were established for the attributes. Thus, it is obtained a model that allows an analysis of the improvement capabilities of airports focused on air cargo activity.