Modelling surface access mode choice of air passengers

Disaggregate demand analysis based on utility maximisation was carried out in this study using revealed data on air passengers. Models were developed that explained passengers' choice of ground access mode in terms of access time, household car ownership, size of the access group and luggage count. Market segmentation allowed sub-models to be developed for leisure passengers, business passengers, passengers on domestic flights and international flights, passengers who earn less than 20 000 a year and passengers with an annual income of 20 000 or more. A multinomial logit approach was adopted considering its suitability in this study in which the choice set consisted of: car (long-stay parking), car (drop off), taxi, metro and bus. Newcastle International airport, located in the north-east of England, was chosen as the case study. The addition of an extra automobile in a passenger's household was found to increase (×6) the odds of using car (long-stay parking) rather than bus. In this study business travellers were found to be more sensitive to access time than passengers travelling mainly for leisure. Passengers to domestic destinations tended to be more sensitive to access time in comparison with their international-bound counterparts. Passengers who earn 20 000 per year or more valued access time more than passengers earning less than 20 000 per year.