THE PROJECTED MARKET SHARE FOR A NEW SMALL AIRPORT IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND

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.