ASD is the practice of retaining and/or establishing air service at a given airport or community. Today’s
ASD focuses on the economics of air service and looks to build a strong business case supported by community stakeholder involvement, realistic route forecasts and possible financial incentives to justify new routes or maintain existing service. A goal of
ASD is typically to maintain existing air service levels while striving to improve service by either adding more flights, lowering fares, or improving schedules. This goal can be achieved through many efforts that can be explored here such as continuous market place analysis of current and potential routes, examination of the regional customer base, and teaming with community partners in order to present the best business case possible to new and existing air carriers. However, it must be understood that in an environment where commercial airlines are under intense pressure to maximize returns on their overall network and schedule patterns,
ASD efforts take time and must present a compelling business case to drive changes in service patterns.
An equally important goal of those involved in
ASD is to explain the dynamics of air service to stakeholders in the community. Airport managers frequently find themselves in the difficult position of explaining to elected officials and community leaders why their particular airport has the volume and variety of air service it has and not some greater amount as might be desired.
Benefits of ASD
The main reason that air service development is undertaken is that access to the global air transportation network is often linked to economic development and tourism in a region. Maintaining or implementing new air service routes can open up new markets and provide the connectivity for global commerce.
ASD efforts can help communities design strategies to retain their existing service or develop new service in existing and emerging markets.
ASD programs provide the interface between the airlines, airports, and the community.
Your Airport and Community
It is critical to note that airlines make the decisions on routes and fares based on business factors and they each have internal departments whose sole job it is to pore over economic and flight data to determine which markets might be underserved. Airlines work with
ASD teams comprised of airport and local constituents to exchange information about possible changes in service. Your airport is the key partner and may take a leading role in
ASD efforts.
The Local Partners
Major employers, business users, and local organizations such as Chambers of Commerce, Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Economic Development Corporations are each air service development stakeholders due to their link to economic development and tourism. They can provide key information and help inform airline decisions.
A Proactive Approach
It is impossible for the airlines to know everything about every airport and its community when making air service decisions. It is up to your airport and community to provide airlines with the key, high-quality information they need to support new service, such as new businesses or business expansions that support air service. This will be discussed further under the
Explore section.
Control Airport Costs and Offer Additional Incentives
Airports can set costs so that they are competitive and do not hinder airline entrance. Airports can consider financial incentives to share the airline’s risk of starting new service. However, it should be noted that airline decisions about routes are made much more on revenue potential than on airport costs. Additional information regarding incentives can be found in the
Explore section.
Most of the core air service development activities reside with airport staff in conjunction with community stakeholders such as Chambers of Commerce and Economic Development Corporations. However, airlines have the final say in which markets are flown, the number of flights offered, the type of aircraft used, and the various levels of airfares at any given time. Your airport acts as the liaison with the airlines but in the end it is the airlines that make key decisions related to air service.
There are several air service-related conferences and training sessions held each year that are attended by airports as well as community members. These events provide a plethora of information related to the intricacies of air service development and airline planning including, in some cases, an opportunity to sit down with airlines to discuss community and air service needs.