Publications

2005 Publication Highlights
2004 Publication Highlights

2005 Publication Highlights

State's Air Transport Industry on the Rebound
Jonathan Green and Dr. John D. Kasarda

North Carolina's air transportation industry is rebounding faster than the rest of the nation since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, as indicated by the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).

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Air Cargo, Liberalization, and Economic Development
Annals of Air and Space Law, V. XXXI
Dr. John D. Kasarda and David L. Sullivan

This article explicates how air cargo drives economic development. Case studies and multi-country statistical models are used to document the lead role that air cargo plays in the growth of trade, foreign direct investment and GDP and how this role is influenced by air liberalization, customs quality and corruption. The article concludes with implications of our assessments and empirical results for policy-makers and government officials wishing to spur air cargo's positive impact on economic development.

Air Cargo as an Economic Development Engine: A Note on Opportunities and Constraints
Journal of Air Transport Management, V. 11
Dr. John D. Kasarda and Jonathan D. Green

This paper examines the role that air cargo plays in economic development and factors that condition its impact. After presenting basic empirical relationships between air cargo and both trade and gross domestic product per capita, three factors are discussed that can enhance air cargo's positive impact:

• air service liberalization
• improving customs quality
• reducing corruption

We then model and assess the effects of these three factors on per capita net inward foreign investment and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in sixty-three countries around the world.

Shifting Gears: China's Infrastructure Development To Accommodate Manufacturing and Trade
Kristen Van Leuven UNC Kenan-Flagler BSBA '06 and 2005 Boeing Scholar

The purpose of this research was to understand how manufacturing shifts to China will affect trade flows and transportation infrastructure. This study sought to determine whether China’s infrastructure system has the capacity to maintain the current rate of economic growth, and how transportation systems will develop to support the corresponding freight flows.

China and the Potential for Integrated Air Cargo
Sean Lin UNC Kenan-Flagler BSBA '06 and 2005 Boeing Scholar

The objective of this research was to evaluate and analyze industry-specific solutions offered by the four major integrators—FedEx, UPS, DHL, and TNT—in the international arena, primarily in China. The Chinese market is seen as a boon for the four heavyweights as it is widely predicted to experience rapid expansion in the integrated express market in the coming years. In light of the integrators’ expansion into the lucrative Chinese market, the paper seeks to define the industries they are targeting. Through analyzing their industry-specific solutions, a further objective is to shed light on some of their best practice and how the integrators are able to maintain their comparative advantage over run-of-the-mill transport providers and provide value to their customers

2004 Publication Highlights

The 2004 Global Infrastructure Report

Airports have long been economic devlopment engines for local areas and regions, but their potential economic significance is only now being understood by area developers, corporate site seekers and urban planners. Like never before, airports are central to businesses' ability to compete given the heightened role of logistics and distribution in meeting customers and shareholder expectations. Their importance in this respect cannot be overstated.

Printable version [PDF 3MB]

"Air Cargo: Engine of Economic Development."
Dr. John D. Kasarda, Jonathan Green and David Sullivan. 2004.

This paper, commissioned by The International Air Cargo Association, explores and delineates the relationship of liberalization, customs and corruption factors and their effect on the growth of air cargo, foreign direct investment and gross domestic product.

Full Report [PDF 239K]
Condensed Version [PDF 140K]

"Asia's Emerging Airport Cities" Urban Land Asia.
Dr. John D. Kasarda. December 2003.

In Asia as in the rest of the world, airports will be as important to business location and urban growth in the 21st century as automobiles and trucks were in the 20th century, railroads in the 19th century, and waterborne movement in the 18th century. Real estate developers, airport operators, and nearby municipalities have a propitious opportunity to capitalize on this trend. Through productive collaboration, they can lead the way in shaping airport cities and aerotropoli that will become prominent features of 21st-century urban form.

Full Report

Printable version [PDF 221K]

"The Catalytic Effect of the Accessibility to Air Cargo Services."
Petr Cech, UNC Kenan-Flagler Exchange MBA 04.

The paper explores what the qualitative advantages of the accessibility to air cargo services for businesses in an airport catchment area are. While studies on the catalytic effects generated by airports have recently become more common, there has been little written about the air cargo sector alone. This research attempts to separate the effect of air cargo service from effects generated by air transport in general, arguing that airports with higher levels of accessibility to air cargo services extend greater regional and industrial benefits than airports with little or no cargo do.

"Experience as a Critical Success Factor in Airline Entrepreneurship."
Kristen Guy, UNC Kenan-Flagler BSBA 05.

Extensive research has been done on the origins of managerial strategy and the merits of expertise and experience in various situations. Some research has also explored the origins of entrepreneurial strategy, but no studies have focused specifically on airline entrepreneurship. This research aims to explore and define the significance of experience as a critical success factor in air carrier startups.

"airDATAport: Indexing Global Aviation."
Brian Graybeal, UNC Kenan-Flagler BSBA 05.

This study aims to review Business Intelligence concepts and theories, and how these are demonstrated in research support tools for the aviation industry. In addition, this study will review the status of one tool, the Kenan Institute Center for Air Commerce's airDATAport, and explore possible developments for the future.

"Airline Volatility and Airport Revenues."
Nikin Shah. BSBA 05.

How is the volatility of airline industry affecting airport revenues? This paper answers the research question from an airline industry perspective, discussing alternative growth strategies for airport development (i.e. non-aeronautical revenues as opposed to aeronautical revenues). Taking into account existing data, research, and articles this paper draws conclusions on the key factors causing this volatility and decline in airline/airport revenues.

"Flying into the Future: An Adaptive Supply Network."
Timothy Durbin, UNC Kenan-Flagler BSBA 05

What is an adaptive supply network? What are an adaptive supply network's capabilities? Who benefits from an adaptive supply network? How does the industry move from the current supply chain model to an adaptive supply network? In order to build a case for an adaptive supply chain in the commercial aviation industry, this report examines the current difficulties within industry-focusing on Delta Airlines and Boeing. After building a case for an adaptive supply network, this report defines the network, its capabilities, and enabling technologies and offers a roadmap for developing an adaptive supply network in the aviation industry.