BBSG supported the municipal authorities in Pila in developeing a concept for a local airport, analysing its potential influence on development of the city and the region.
Scope of our work
Scope of our work included:
- Identification of synergies between the airport and the region;
- Estimation of Pila Airport aviation and non-aviation development potential;
- Estimation of Pila Airport potential influence on economic activity, investment attractiveness and tourism in Pila and its surrounding area;
- SWOT analysis.
Our approach
First of all, we estimated the potential for aviation operations – mainly for general aviation traffic. We also analysed the potential for developing non-aviation activities mainly by exploiting significant area of land available for development. A positive result of our evaluation lead to a recommendation to apply for the status of an airport for public use. This would increase chances to attract new investors to the region and boost its economic development.
Value and benefits
Currently, the volume of traffic at local airports in the CEE region is well below the potential they offer. In practical terms, sports and educational activities, followed by low volume aviation tourism prevail. Based on experience of other countries, where so called “small aviation” is at a higher staego of development, we drew the following conclusions:
- Specific location and local tourist offer may foster aviation operations at an airport;
- It is possible to base the airport development only on the aviation training services but the volume must be significant;
- Involvement of local municipalities is a precondition for airport development;
- A wide aviation and non-aviation offer is a precondition for successful traffic development at a local airport. Providing such offer requires some capital expenditures both on public (aviation infrastructure) and private (non-aviation offer) side.
- Proper aviation offer and investment potential is a must for a business activity to grow in such locations.
Important finding
Transport accessibility is defined as the ease of access to a particular location with the use of infrastructure and transportation services. Therefore, if transport accessibility is the key challenge to by addressed by a region, then the region should offer a facility (infrastructure), which will allow to attract transport service providers . Existence of aviation transport infrastructure in a particular location surely affects regional transport accessibility. However, it should be underlined that it is not a sine qua non of a high level transport accessibility. Intermodal connections allowing use of an aviation offer outside the region can be a viable alternative.
