Sheffield is hoping to have a short take-off and landing airport open
for business by 1993. Its use will depend on its ability to recapture
local traffic which currently uses other existing airports. A behaviou
ral choice model has been calibrated on the actual airport choice made
in 1983 by travellers who started their trips within an hour of Sheff
ield's airport site. This model has been used to predict Sheffield's m
arket share for a range of frequencies and fares. It is shown that com
parable frequencies need to be offered to those at the competitive air
ports if the new airport is to recapture the majority of the traffic g
enerated in its own hinterland. Fare and aircraft size are much less i
mportant, at least for business traffic.