The Spanish airport system. An analysis of concentration and volatility

Abstract

This paper analyzes the structure of the Spanish airport system. In particular, it studies the concentration and volatility of passenger distribution, both from the point of view of the airport and the airline. Likewise, the study of passenger distribution within each airport allows observing the effect of the inclusion of low cost airlines; it allows determining the effects related to the international crisis, and the effects of the legislative changes that have affected AENA. A series of concentration and volatility indices are calculated using data on passengers for 46 Spanish airports from 2004 to 2015. The results point to an airport system structure characterized by limited concentration and very low volatility