DRIVERS OF HIGHER CONNECTIVITY AT NEW REGIONAL AIRPORTS IN INDIA AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS

Limited research has been conducted on the connectivity of smaller regional airports. As a contribution to the existing body of knowledge, we investigate the factors influencing connectivity levels at newly established regional airports in India. To achieve this, we employ data from the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) using a two-stage approach. In the first stage, we evaluate the levels of connectivity at RCS airports. In the second stage, we empirically examine their drivers, where we found some interesting non-intuitive results particularly when analyzing the role of surface transportation. A higher density of rails in the state supports its airport connectivity, while a higher density of roads imposes a negative influence. We also find that the levels of connectivity are higher in RCS airports that are less affected by competition from other airports. The outcome from this research has policy implications and puts forth some new questions for future study.