How Airports and Tourism Boards Attract New Flights

In this second article of a six-part series on successful air service development, Gavin Eccles, Professor of Aviation at Universidade Lusófona, discusses how airports and tourism boards can work together to create compelling business cases for airlines. By closely collaborating, both can present more attractive and unique opportunities for carriers to add new routes.

Gavin’s experience spans roles in British Airways, consultancy for major airlines like United Airlines, and as a Board Advisor for Visit Portugal on air connectivity. His expertise highlights how airports can drive tourism, boost local economies, and enhance traveler access through strategic airline partnerships.

The Role of Airports in Tourism
Airports are no longer just transit hubs—they play a central role in promoting destinations. They market themselves to tourists and airlines, showcasing regional attractions to improve route profitability. Airports now act as key players in tourism, boosting accessibility to remote areas and encouraging tourism growth.

Airport Development and Local Economies
Airport expansions significantly benefit tourism by creating new routes and improving accessibility. This, in turn, supports local economies by creating jobs and encouraging more tourists to visit, benefiting sectors like hospitality, restaurants, and cultural attractions. Airport competition also leads to lower airfares, making destinations more appealing.

Collaboration Between Airports and Airlines
Strong collaborations between airports and airlines are essential to enhancing tourism. By working together to create new flight routes and offer incentives like reduced landing fees, airports can attract more flights and tourists. Joint marketing efforts between airports and airlines are also crucial to promoting regions effectively and boosting visitor numbers.

How Tourism Boards Can Support Airlines
Tourism boards bring valuable insights into potential passenger behavior and local attractions that airlines need when considering new routes. While airlines already have access to data on traffic trends, qualitative insights from tourism boards, such as spending patterns, stay statistics, and local market sentiment, provide a fuller picture. This information helps build a more compelling case to airlines, making it easier for airports to secure new routes.

Building a Strong Business Case
To successfully attract airlines, airports and tourism boards need to present a well-rounded business case that includes both historical data and future insights. Airlines look for detailed analyses of potential passenger traffic, fares, and the market’s potential to sustain flights. By combining this with qualitative insights on local demographics and tourism trends, airports can offer a more persuasive argument for airlines to serve their destinations.

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