Visualising the Optimistic, Realistic, and Pessimistic Financial Distress Outlooks for Airport Operations in Malaysia

This paper aims to visualise three financial distress outlooks using computer simulations. The financial distress exposure for airport operations in Malaysia between 1991 and 2021 is given by Altman Z”-score and modelled by the multivariate generalized linear model (MGLM). Seven determinants contributing to the financial distress from literature are examined. The determinant series are fitted individually by using linear model with time series components and autoregressive integrated moving average models to forecast values for the next 10 financial years. Future short- to long-term memory effects following COVID-19 are apparent in time series plots. In the simulations, the MGLM procedure utilised Gaussian, gamma, and Cauchy probability distributions associated with expectations and challenges of doing business as well as uncertainties in the economy. The underlying trends of realistic, optimistic, and pessimistic financial distress outlooks insinuate that the increasing risk of financial distress of airport operations in Malaysia is expected to continue for the next decade.

The impact of security oversight on air cargo price and demand

This paper examines the effect of security oversight on air cargo price and demand. We exploit variations in security oversight instituted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). We estimate a simultaneous equation model using proprietary operations data from a major airline in South Korea over the period 2009–2013. This study explores the shipping-charge behavior of a service provider through a modeling approach that considers air cargo security. Our findings show that security oversight increases air cargo demand, controlling for the effect of price. Improving security measures increases the air cargo price, but the magnitude of this increase is small. Our results should help policymakers gauge the benefit of improved security and help airlines design an effective model to determine future air cargo shipping charges under high uncertainty to mitigate short- and long-term financial risks.

Coping in supply chains: a conceptual framework for disruption management

PurposeThe Covid-19 pandemic exposed the fragility of global supply chains. Attempts to deepen our understanding of the effects of the pandemic on global supply chains mostly offer anecdotal evidences and lack theory grounded research. The purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual framework to help explain supply chain disruption management.Design/methodology/approachThis is a conceptual paper and uses a theory building approach. It develops a conceptual framework adapted from coping theory in psychology to explain supply chain disruption management. To refine the framework, the authors independently reviewed extant supply chain disruption management literature. The authors then studied the frameworks on stress theory in psychology. Following the review of both streams of literatures, the authors developed an initial draft of the conceptual model. This draft was then iteratively refined through extensive discussions among the authors.FindingsCoping theory can help revise supply chain disruption management with an alternative lens that has not been applied before in this domain. The proposed conceptual framework is generic and can be applied to disruption management strategies for any organization in any industry.Originality/valueThe conceptual framework proposed in this paper offers a new theoretical lens to supply chain disruption management discourse. It contributes to the operational understanding of supply chain disruption management.

Air transportation and tourism interactions and actions for competitive destinations: the case of Cyprus

Purpose>Air connectivity is one of the most important aspects of tourism development, especially for island state destinations (ISD) which rely on air travel for accessibility. The complexity of the tourism industry necessitates close interaction among involved stakeholders to ensure successful policy implementation of air transportation operations that facilitate tourism mobility at a destination.Design/methodology/approach>In this paper self-administered questionnaires in a structured format were distributed to 200 managers. Additionally, seven unstructured follow-up interviews were conducted to enrich the content and better support the conclusions.Findings>The results of the study suggest that air transportation and connectivity are not fully integrated with tourism policy and strategy planning. Yet it is crucial that a stakeholder approach is adopted that accounts for the needs of diverse stakeholders and airline strategies, along with a diversified tourism policy that can establish Cyprus as year-round destination.Originality/value>The role of the airline industry in overall tourism strategy and policy is examined and the unique problems and challenges ISDs like Cyprus face in developing as a tourism destination and overcoming tourism seasonality are underlined.

A preliminary framework for managing airport capacity and demand from an economic perspective

Purpose>Airport capacity constraints lead to operational congestion and delays, which have become major threats to the aviation industry. They impose large costs on airlines and their passengers. Uncertainty in demand or unexpected events can cause a mismatch between capacity and demand, resulting in either capacity oversupply, with a decrease in efficiency, or airport congestion over an extended period. Moreover, airport capacity is rather difficult to define due to its multifaceted and dynamic nature, and it depends both on the available infrastructure and on operating procedures. Additionally, traditional capacity management methods do not consider relevant behavioral economic challenges to conventional analysis, particularly failure of the expected utility hypotheses and dependence of valuations on reference points. This study aims to develop a preliminary framework to include economic concepts when evaluating expansions of airport capacity.Design/methodology/approach>This paper reviews major opportunities in airport demand and capacity management from an economic perspective while appraising the challenges involved in airport capacity expansion processes that have not been fully completely in past studies. Although welfare economics provides the conceptual foundations for demand/capacity analyses, the authors integrate the findings regarding capacity definition, uncertainty management and behavioral economics into standard economics to guide the measurement of the airport capacity expansion problem.Findings>The authors obtain several insights regarding airport capacity and demand management. First, airport capacity is a complex metric when evaluating airport expansion, and it depends both on the available infrastructure and on operating procedures. Furthermore, airport throughput is highly conditioned by factors that shape capacity and delay and shows significant variability when these factors are modified. Second, a marginal change in capacity at congested airports may have a great impact on demand distribution, airline competition, aircraft types, fares, operating revenues, route map and other characteristics of a given airport. Behavior after capacity expansion is highly reliant on the slot allocation models. Additionally, overall social welfare is usually affected after changes in infrastructure in terms of increased connectivity, economic benefits and negative externalities, including noise and local pollution. Third, on-time performance is clearly nonlinear, and thus sensitive to variations in demand and capacity. Finally, airport capacity and demand management involve a trade-off between mitigating congestion and maximizing capacity utilization, so decision-making tools are required to support and enhance policy and managerial choices. Three main challenges arise when developing new methods for evaluating airport expansions: the definition of capacity, the management of uncertainty in demand and the need to consider economic concepts.Originality/value>This paper explores and produces an in-depth understanding of the problem of airport capacity and demand balance. The authors propose a preliminary framework that considers the challenges that have been previously identified and that, particularly, provides an economic perspective for airport capacity expansion processes. This framework is completed with a theoretical model to help policymakers and airport operators when faced with a capacity development decision.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Information Technology in Multiple Sectors of the Economy: Quarterly Journal

According to the World Health Organization, over the last 10 years, an average of 700 disasters has been reported every year. Recent infectious disease outbreaks including the ongoing global Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have demonstrated the need for a comprehensive, disaster risk management systems and a wholistic approach to manage the pandemic. Since Fiji has experienced has several incidents of national disasters, it is known to have an excellent National Disaster Management Plan. [...]the first National Health Emergencies and Disaster Management Plan (or HEADMAP) is designed along with the Fiji National Pandemic Plan and the Draft Communicable Disease Guideline. Proactive restaurants and fast food chains have adopted innovative technologies such as online food orders, robots, and curbside pickup to create efficiencies in their service models that are expected to continue in the post-COVID era.

System dynamics model for intra-city multimodal transportation considering behavioral indicators and demand under uncertainty conditions

Purpose>By designing a system dynamics model in the form of a multimodal transportation system, this study for the first time seeks to reduce costs and time, and increase customer satisfaction by considering uncertainties in the intra city transit system, especially demand uncertainty and provide a prototype system to prove the capability of the dynamical system.Design/methodology/approach>The paper tried to model the factors affecting the intra city multimodal transportation system by defining different scenarios in the cause-and-effect model. The maps and results developed according to system dynamics modeling principles are discussed.Findings>Four scenarios were considered given the factors affecting the urban transportation system to implement the transportation information system for reducing the material and non-material costs of wrong planning of the intra city transit system. After implementing the scenarios, scenario two was selected under the following conditions: advertising for cultural development, support of authorities by efforts such as street widening to reduce traffic, optimize infrastructure, increase and optimize public transport and etc.Originality/value>The value of this paper is considering uncertainty in traffic optimization;taking into account behavioral and demand indicators such as cultural promotion, official support, early childhood learning, traffic hours and the impact of traveler social status;investigating the factors affecting the system under investigation and the reciprocal effects of these factors and real-world simulation by considering the factors and effects between them.

COVID-19 Sürecinde Íhracat ve Hava Kargo Taşımacılığı: Antalya Havalimanı Üzerine Bir Araştırma

COVID-19'un hızlı yayılması nedeniyle Dünya, benzeri görülmemiş bir kriz yaşamaktadır. Gelişmiş ve gelişmekte olan ekonomiler için kilit sektör olarak sınıflandırılan havacılık sektörü ise mevcut krizden önemli ölçüde etkilenmiştir. Ancak hava kargo sektörü havacılık sektörünün geneline kıyasla bazı kalemlerde büyüme eǧilimi göstermiştir. Bu nedenle, bu çalışmanın amacı, Türkiye 'nin en büyük havalimanlarından biri olan Antalya havalimanın hava kargo ihracatının COVID-19 öncesi ve sonrası trendini analiz etmek ve havacılık sektörünün krizden çıkış ve büyümesini Antalya havalimanı özelinde geleceǧe yönelik beklentilerle incelemektir. Çalışma bulgularına göre COVID-19 öncesi ve sonrası Antalya ili ile Antalya Havalimanı hava kargo ihracatının mevcut durumu tespit edilmiş ve ilgili literatüre yönelik öneriler, veriler baǧlamında tartışılmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda;2020 yılında Türkiye genel ihracat rakamları 2019 yılına oranla %6,2 azalırken Antalya ili ihracatı ise %12,5 artmıştır. 2018 ve 2019 yılları arasında Antalya ilinden hava kargo ile yoǧunlukla sanayi ve maden ürünlerinin ihraç edildiǧi ancak 2020 yılında ise bu ürünlerin ihracatının dramatik bir şekilde azaldıǧı görülmüştür. Fakat aynı yıl sırayla bitkisel gıdalar ve yaş sebze meyve ihracatı %27,1 ve %70,5 oranlarında artarak pandemi öncesi ihracat deǧerlerinin çok üzerine çıktıǧı tespit edilmiştir.Alternate :Due to the rapid spread of COVID-19, the World is experiencing an unprecedented crisis. The aviation sector, which is classified as a key sector for developed and developing economies, has been significantly affected by the current crisis. However, the air cargo sector showed a growth trend in some items compared to the aviation sector in general. Therefore, the aim of this study is to analyze the pre- and post-COVID-19 trend of air cargo exports of Antalya airport, which is one of the largest airports in Turkey, and to examine the exit and growth of the aviation sector from the crisis with future expectations for Antalya airport. According to the study findings, current status of Antalya city with Antalya Airport air cargo exports before and after COVID-19 were determined and suggestions for the sector and related literature were discussed in the context of data. At the end of the study, in the year of2020 overall export from Turkey decreased 6,2% compared to 2019 while export from Antalya city increased with the rate of 12,5%. The exported goods from Antalya city by the air cargo between 2018 and 2019 are mostly industrial and mine products however export of them is dramatically decreased in 2020. In the same year export of herbal food and fresh fruit and vegetables are increased with the rates of 27,1% and 70,5%, respectively. So export amounts of herbal food and fresh fruit and vegetables are found to be extremely over the export amount during the pre-pandemic period.

The omnidirectional runway with infinite heading as a futuristic runway concept for future free route airspace operations

Purpose>The purpose of this paper is to create and analyze the effectiveness of a new runway system, which is totally created for the future free route operations.Design/methodology/approach>This paper researches and analyses the new generated runway concept with the fast time simulation method. Fuel consumption and environmental effect of the new runway system are calculated based on simulation results.Findings>According to different traffic density analyses the Omnidirectional Runway with Infinite Heading (ORIH) reduced fuel consumption and CO2 emissions up to 46.97%. Also the total emissions of the ORIH concept, for the hydro carbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) pollutants were lower than the total emissions with the conventional runway up to 83.13, 74.36 and 51.49%, respectively.Practical implications>Free route airspaces bring many advantages to air traffic management and airline operations. Direct routes become available from airport to airport thanks to free route airspace concept. However, conventional single runway structure does not allow aircraft operations for every direction. The landing and take-off operations of a conventional airport with a single runway must be executed with only two heading direction. This limitation brings a bottleneck direct approach and departure route usage as convenient with free route airspace concept. This paper suggests and analyzes the omnidirectional runway with infinite heading (ORIH) as a solution for free route airspace.Originality/value>This paper suggests a new and futuristic runway design and operation for the free route operations. This paper has its originality from the suggested and newly created runway system.

A case for regulated industrial democracy post-Covid-19

Covid-19 is reshaping the domestic workforce. Thousands have lost their jobs throughout this pandemic, and we are seeing a decline in private sector unionism that is unlikely to recover under the current regulatory settings. The implications for democracy are considerable. Using the aviation industry as an example, this article defines industrial democracy, provides an insight into industrial democracy in New Zealand, and argues the case for the regulation of industrial democracy post-Covid-19.

Consumer reactions to different robotic servers in theme parks

Purpose>This study aims to understand the theme park visitors’ perceived robotic qualities featured in four different robots, assess their robotic functions and consumers’ loyalty toward four different robotic server types.Design/methodology/approach>A structured online survey of 399 respondents measured and compared consumer perceptions related to qualities and functions of robots in a theme park context and consumers’ behavioral intentions in four different robotic scenarios – anime, cartoon-like, human-like and animal-like robots in theme parks. Survey data were collected on an online platform and analyzed by SPSS.Findings>The results showed some expected differences in robotic qualities among the different robot-type scenarios, but similar reactions overall. The findings also provided insight into the type of robots that consumers prefer and showed a little more preference toward human-like robotic servers.Research limitations/implications>The study was restricted to several robotic scenarios in North American theme parks. Future qualitative and quantitative studies should look in more detail at theme park visitors’ participation in the robotic service delivery process, the robots’ mobility and interactions with fellow visitors.Practical implications>The findings can guide practitioners on robots’ looks, qualities and functionalities to consider for introducing to their patrons to create more interactive environments and experiences.Originality/value>The study revealed some new knowledge about consumer expectations for robotic servers in theme parks. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that compares different robot types on their perceived appearance, qualities and functionality, or consumers’ behavioral tendencies in the context of theme parks.

ENHANCING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE AVIATION INDUSTRY: AIRLINES' COMMITMENT TO "GREEN" PRACTICES

The aviation industry represents an important polluter, being responsible for increasing environmental impacts on global scale. Aiming to approach the adoption of suitable policies in the aviation industry towards the achievement of the national and international sustainability goals, the present research tackles airlines' commitment to aviation-related environmental issues, as well as their willingness to adopt sustainable aviation fuel (i.e., bio jet fuel) and sustainable development strategies, focusing on those companies operating flights in the Karol Wojtyła Airport (Bari, Italy). The paper adopts the x2 test and the logistic regression to investigate three different hypotheses related to airlines' headquarters, carriers' typology (i.e., low-cost or not, flag carriers or not) and years of service. Results outline that traditional airlines, either flag carriers or not, as well as South and North American companies, are more likely to be aware of aviation environmental consequences, publishing environmental reports and offering to passengers the chance to participate to climate change reduction (e.g., through online carbon offset programs or more expensive ticket to produce bio jet fuels). In addition, airlines transiting in Karol Wojtyła Airport show a small willingness to share information through environmental reports and are scarcely intentioned to make use of bio jet fuels, confirming that low-cost companies are still less attentive towards aviation environmental issues. The present research contributes to the empirical studies on sustainable aviation and carriers' commitment to environmental strategies, highlighting the need to enhance carbon offsets programs and digital technologies as the online compensation of CO2 emissions.

PROSPECTS FOR CREATING A REGIONAL BUDGET AIRLINE IN THE REPUBLIC OF CRIMEA

The 2020 crisis caused by the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic had a positive influence on the development of regional air travel. Against the background of an overall drop in passenger traffic exceeding 40%, a number of airports in the Southern Federal District have demonstrated positive development dynamics. With the opening of regular flights to cities in the Southern Federal District and the Republic of Crimea, a number of airports in the Central Federal District and the Volga Federal District by the end of 2020 increased passenger traffic due to the development of the domestic route network. The Russian air passenger market demonstrated high growth and development rates during the period of 2009–2019. The underlying factors of growth and development were the implementation of the subsidizing regional air routes program, the development of competition and the increase in the growth rate of production of the regional jet “SSJ-100”. According to the results of activities at the end of 2020, the Russian regional airline (a mono-operator of the “SSJ-100” jet) demonstrated the lowest rate of passenger traffic reduction. The airline also increased its aircraft fleet by 2 units and expanded its regional route network. The Republic of Crimea is a strategically important region of the Russian Federation. Modernization of the regional logistics complex, which includes the development of regular flights to the regions of the Russian Federation, is a priority task of domestic policy. Based on the structural analysis of the air passenger market and the regional logistics system, a model for creating a regional budget airline for the Republic of Crimea is proposed. The result of overcoming the 2008 crisis on the European air passenger market was the strengthening of the role and influence of the budget airlines (increase in market share from 15% to 50% from 2009 to 2019). The low-cost air transportation segment of the Russian market demonstrates high potential for development due to growing demand. The development of regional air transportation is one of the key factors in the development of the national aircraft construction system. The results of the study can be used in developing a strategy for the aviation logistics system of the Republic of Crimea, as well as in developing strategies for the development of regional airports on the island and peninsular territories.Alternate : Кризис 2020 г., обусловленный негативным влиянием пандемии COVID-19, оказал положительное влияние на развитие регионального авиасообщения. На фоне общего падения пассажиропотока, превышающего 40 %, ряд аэропортов ЮФО продемонстрировали положительную динамику развития. Ряд аэропортов ЦФО и ПФО за счет развития внутренней маршрутной сети увеличили пассажиропоток по итогам 2020 г. за счет открытия регулярного авиасообщения с городами ЮФО и Республикой Крым. Российский рынок пассажирских авиаперевозок демонстрировал высокие темпы роста и развития в период 2009–2019 годов. Обусловливающими факторами роста и развития послужили: реализация программы субсидирования региональных авианаправлений, развитие конкуренции, увеличение темпов роста производства отечественного лайнера «SSJ-100». По итогам деятельности за 2020 г. российская региональная авиакомпания – моноэксплуатант лайнеров «SSJ-100» продемонс ‚рировала наименьший показатель снижения пассажиропотока, а также увеличила парк воздушных судов на 2 ед. и расширила регионально-маршрутную сеть. Республика Крым является стратегически важным регионом Российской Федерации. Модернизация регионального логистического комплекса, включающего в себя развитие регулярного авиасообщения с регионами РФ, является приоритетной задачей внутренней политики. На основании структурного анализа рынка пассажирских авиаперевозок и региональной логистической системы предложена модель создания региональной бюджетной авиакомпании на территории Республики Крым. Результатом преодоления кризиса 2008 г. на европейском рынке пассажирских авиаперевозок стало усиление роли и влияния бюджетных авиакомпаний (увеличение доли рынка с 15 до 50 % в период с 2009 по 2019 г.). Сегмент бюджетных авиаперевозок в структуре российского рынка демонстрирует высокий потенциал развития, обусловленный возрастающим спросом. Развитие региональных авиаперевозок является одним из ключевых факторов развития национальной системы самолетостроения. Результаты исследования могут быть применены при разработке стратегии авиатранспортнойлогистической системы Республики Крым, а также при разработке стратегий развития региональных аэропортов на островных и полуостровных территориях.

Smart Island and Sustainable Tourist Development with the example of Madeira. Part 1: Theoretical Contexts and Development Conditions

Purpose: The main objective of the article was to analyze the conditions and factors that determine the tourist development of Madera Island in relation to the assumptions of the sustainable development concept and the smart city concept. Moreover, the conducted own research made it possible to identify key problem areas related to the development of tourism in the discussed area, formulated by representatives of the local community and tourists. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research presented in this paper was conducted in April 2021. It was addressed to both permanent residents of Madeira and tourists visiting the island. A total of 391 people participated in the survey (diagnostic survey, questionnaire). Based on the collected opinions, the preferences observed in the surveyed groups were analyzed and an extensive list of recommendations was proposed. These recommendations have broad implementation potential, both in relation to Madeira and other tourist locations with similar social, economic, and environmental conditions. Findings: Areas of strong tourist reception are usually a common ground for actions of various institutions, environments, and people representing different and sometimes conflicting interests. The Portuguese Island of Madeira described in the paper is a perfect example: in a relatively small area, one can find both areas that require protection due to the valuable natural and cultural assets, areas of agricultural and industrial character (on a small scale), and places with strongly developed tourism and tourism-related infrastructure. Ongoing discussions on the future of Madeira indicate that the economy based on sustainable tourism and smart city concept will play a key role. Own research made visible that the catalogue of problem areas is very extensive and includes phenomena of various character and intensity. The concepts of sustainable tourism and smart city, which are the key reference point for the presented research, can be perceived as a certain ideal, being a source of inspiration and a tool for searching for optimal (taking into consideration interests of various groups) development paths for a given area. Practical Implications: Based on the collected data, the preferences observed among the respondents were analyzed and an extensive list of recommendations was proposed. These recommendations have broad implementation potential, both in relation to Madeira and other tourist locations with similar social, economic, and environmental conditions. Originality/Value: Previous studies are mostly limited to the discursive domain of the problem under consideration. Few studies have extensively discussed the implementation area of the concept in relation to the theoretical indications, especially concerning social expectations and preferences, formulated by both representatives of the local community and tourists.

Humanity, Vulgarity, Inanity and Politics Thus Reports COVID-19

[...]it has impacted life at all levels-individual, local, regional, national and international;and all aspects- social, relational, political, economic, religious and cultural. The Hospital authority lodged an FIR accusing them of indulging in obscenity and based on the medical staff's complaints, including nurses. After a COVID-19 patient's death, a team of doctors and other medical staff and a police team went there to take immediate contacts of the dead to a quarantine facility. In April 20 WWW.Inida.com reported that one of the stone pelters at Taat Patti Bakhal area in Indore who tested positive for COVID-19 and was undergoing treatment in the isolation ward of the medical college, Jabalpur escaped the quarantine centre but later was arrested BBC news on 3 April stated that their neighbours have also ostracised some physicians and their families because of their exposure to patients infected with Covid-19.

Grey clustering of the variations in the back-to-front airplane boarding method considering COVID-19 flying restrictions

PurposeThe airline industry has been significantly hit by the occurrence of the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, facing one of its worst crises in history. In this context, the present paper analyses one of the well-known boarding methods used in practice by the airlines before and during the coronavirus outbreak, namely back-to-front and suggests which variations of this method to use when three passenger boarding groups are considered and a jet bridge connects the airport terminal with the airplane.Design/methodology/approachBased on the importance accorded by the airlines to operational performance, health risks, and passengers' comfort, the variations in three passenger groups back-to-front boarding are divided into three clusters using the grey clustering approach offered by the grey systems theory.FindingsHaving the clusters based on the selected metrics and considering the social distance among the passengers, airlines can better understand how the variations in back-to-front perform in the new conditions imposed by the novel coronavirus and choose the boarding approach that better fits its policy and goals.Originality/valueThe paper combines the advantages offered by grey clustering and agent-based modelling for offering to determine which are the best configurations that offer a reduced boarding time, while accounting for reduced passengers' health risk, measured through three indicators: aisle risk, seat risk and type-3 seat interferences and for an increased comfort for the passengers manifested through a continuous walking flow while boarding.

Covid-19 and ISO9001 practices in air cargo transportation A case study

Air cargo transportation in international trade stands out with its speed, reliability, safety, interaction with other transportation types, intensive use of information technologies, and global standards. During the Covid-19 pandemic, various negativities have emerged in air cargo transportation, as in many sectors. In this study, the difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic in air cargo transportation business processes are evaluated within the scope of the ISO9001 Quality Management System standard so that they do not adversely affect the service quality. In this context, a case study was conducted on the implementation of the ISO 9001 Quality Management System standard in dealing with the difficulties arising from the pandemic in the cargo operations of an air transportation company. As a result of the implementation, the cargo ecosystem has been expanded, the carrying capacity has been increased, and the storage and cargo transportation efficiency has been increased by making use of information and communication technologies. Thus, it was easier to overcome the difficulties arising from the pandemic in the business processes of the company, and it was seen that sustainability in line with commercial expectations was ensured by rising to fifth place in world air cargo transportation in 2020.