Route expansion in the European air transport market

The factors accounting for the significant increase in new routes in the European air transport market in the period 2002–13 are examined. Data for 259 airports with more 250,000 annual passengers are used. The analysis reveals that low-cost airlines extended the benefits of air connectivity to regions with relatively low rates of gross domestic product per capita, increasing the geographical coverage of small or medium-sized airports. New routes are more likely when a tourist destination is an endpoint and are less likely in competitive environments. Finally, different opening patterns by low cost and network airlines are found.