Analysis of catchment areas of three airports in the upper Adriatic region

This article seeks to explain passengers’ choice of airport and analyse catchment areas of three airports in the Upper Adriatic region. The Upper Adriatic region is considered as a uniform, territorially and socio-economically integrated region – and as a single multi-airport and cross-border region. The analysed region is also specific in terms of its geographical, political, economic, and social characteristics, since it extends beyond the boundaries of four countries. The analysis of outbound passengers and catchment areas of the Ljubljana Jože Pucnik Airport (LJU), Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) and Trieste Ronchi dei Legionari Airport (TRS) draws on a survey conducted in 2011. The analysis includes the records of 1552 surveyed passengers with permanent residence in the region. Characteristics of outbound passengers were analysed separately in terms of sex, age, employment, purpose of travel and mode of transportation to the airport. A spatial analysis of airport catchment areas was conducted using the separate and total distances covered to the selected airport, and the purpose of travel in the empirical model of the relevant airport catchment area.The results suggest that small airports have small primary catchment areas, as over 70% of passengers originate in the immediate proximity of airports.