Aplicação dos critérios para qualificação de aeroportos como Hub de cargas: caso de estudo do Aeroporto Regional da Zona da Mata

Abstract

The air transport sector has experienced remarkable and accelerated development over the past decades, solidifying itself as one of the most prominent modes of transportation in terms of growth and expansion. This significant growth is largely attributed to the deregulation of the industry, which has catalyzed a series of changes in the civil aviation landscape, notably the expansion of the hub-and-spoke route model. This paper aims to identify the main criteria for qualifying airports as cargo hubs and, based on these criteria, to assess their application to Presidente Itamar Franco Airport. The methodology adopted is grounded in a theoretical framework supported by a thorough literature review, from which 17 applicable criteria for the Zona da Mata Regional Airport are identified. These criteria include airport charges, flight frequency, airport terminal, customs services, airport access infrastructure, number of operating companies, air connections, variety of services, proximity to import/export areas, intermodal connections (rail, highways, and waterways), handling efficiency, taxi time and storage/efficiency of cargo handling areas, customs efficiency, good cargo reputation (damage and delays), airport density (traffic), adequate infrastructure, and airport security. It was concluded that airports play a crucial role in regional growth, and the Zona da Mata Regional Airport demonstrates considerable potential for cargo operations, with access infrastructure being its main limitation.