Showing papers in "Research in transportation business and management in 2020"
TL;DR: Wang et al. as mentioned in this paper explored the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR), green supply chain management and firm performance, and considered the context of big-data analytics capability, based on 260 samples of Chinese manufacturing industry in three measurement periods, hierarchical multiple regression method was used to analyze the data and test their hypotheses.
Abstract: Green supply chain management (GSCM) has attracted wide attention from academia and practitioners with the improvement of environmental awareness. Based on stakeholder theory, the purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR), green supply chain management and firm performance, and to consider the context of big-data analytics capability. Based on 260 samples of Chinese manufacturing industry in three measurement periods, hierarchical multiple regression method was used to analyze the data and test our hypotheses. The empirical results show that internal CSR (management practice towards employees) and external CSR (management practice towards external stakeholders) has a positive impact on green supply chain management. Green supply chain management has a positive impact on firm performance, and big-data analytics capability has a positive moderating effect on the relationship between external CSR and green supply chain management. The theoretical contributions and practical implications are also discussed.
127 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the ways in which major European passenger airlines responded to the height of the COVID-19 crisis in the period March-May 2020 and identified the responses individual airline operators and parent companies took to contract and consolidate their operations.
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting travel restrictions and fall in consumer demand led to a dramatic and unprecedented reduction in passenger flights across Europe. As borders closed, national Governments advised against all but essential travel and passenger demand disappeared, European airlines were forced to quickly respond to the downturn and impose unprecedented cost saving measures to protect their business. The aim of this paper is to examine the ways in which major European passenger airlines responded to the height of the COVID-19 crisis in the period March – May 2020. Using data from Eurocontrol, the European network manager, the paper identifies the responses individual airline operators and parent companies took to contract and consolidate their operations. The findings show that changes to flight operations, rationalising the fleet, reducing staff numbers, and reconfiguring their networks and capacity were the most common responses. The paper concludes by discussing future considerations for airline business and management as European carriers seek to restructure their operations and adapt to a new post-COVID reality.
69 citations
TL;DR: A comprehensive investigation of the state-of-the-art in developing ML models for applications to different aspects of IFTM, giving an overview of various fundamental ML methods and four directions for future research are proposed.
Abstract: Machine learning (ML) offers a promising avenue for international freight transportation management (IFTM) given its capability to harness the power of data that have become increasingly available to freight transportation researchers and practitioners. This paper conducts a comprehensive investigation of the state-of-the-art in developing ML models for applications to different aspects of IFTM. We start by giving an overview of various fundamental ML methods. Then, how different ML methods have been employed, adapted, and applied to a multitude of subject areas in IFTM are discussed, including demand forecast, operation and asset maintenance, and vehicle trajectory and on-time performance prediction. The potential data sources that may be used to develop ML models are further examined. Subsequently, a synthesis of the exiting work is performed to identify the specific topics addressed in the existing research, ML methods used, the trends of research, and opportunities for further explorations. Four directions for future research are proposed in the end
56 citations
TL;DR: The proposed study defines that regulators and public authorities might potentially represent the main barrier to the full implementation of the block chain technology, especially due to a missing market standard.
Abstract: Despite its historical resilience to innovation, several novel technologies (e.g. IoT, AIS data, and automation) have recently been introduced in the maritime sector: the majority of them represents incremental changes in respect to current practice. Nevertheless, a few of these novel solutions could represent radical game changers for the whole shipping business. Among the latter category, blockchain registers a particular role, given the possibility for smoothening administrative problems, providing new ways to achieve secure and frictionless transactions at a global level. Despite the importance of such innovation, most of the published studies have just focused on technical aspects, while the adoption and implementation processes are far to be clarified since there is not a clear understanding on the potential effects of blockchain on shipping and logistics actors, especially at local level. The proposed study aims at filling this gap, providing insights that might help to better understand: i) which are the actors that impact the most on the blockchain implementation (and related potential frictions), and ii) the difference among alternative initiatives currently present on the market. In order to achieve these twofold aim, the study uses a triangulation approach, mixing literature and media reports research with both web-based research on main initiative characteristics and expert opinions. The proposed study defines that regulators and public authorities might potentially represent the main barrier to the full implementation of the block chain technology, especially due to a missing market standard.
43 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigate the potential of different digital tools in mitigating barriers for increased utilization of intermodal transport and find that adoption by market leaders, demand from inter-modal transports buyers, vertical integration in inter-dimensional transport chains are potential mitigation factors for elimination of barriers to digitalization in interdimensional transport.
Abstract: Although it offers 1 both economic and environmental advantages particularly for long-distances, intermodal transport is still not utilized effectively, and it is challenged by many barriers to its utilization. On the other hand, the transport sector is influenced by recent trends, such as digitalization, Industry 4.0 and many technological innovations are introduced, aiming to transform the way of doing business. Therefore, understanding digitalization's potential to solve the transport sector's struggle for a higher degree of integration between different modes in intermodal transport is important. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the potential of different digital tools in mitigating barriers for increased utilization of intermodal transport. Semi-structured interviews and a policy Delphi study combined with a brainstorming session are conducted to classify various barriers for intermodal transport under certain categories and to understand if and how selected digital tools could help to mitigate these barriers. Findings indicate that the multi-actor nature of intermodal transport networks results in varying perceptions related with digital tools and technologies. This variance acts as a hindrance for digitalization within the conservative context of transportation industry and its cost-based competition structure. Adoption by market leaders, demand from intermodal transport buyers, vertical integration in intermodal transport chains are potential mitigation factors for elimination of barriers to digitalization in intermodal transportation.
36 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a series of focus groups with ride-sourcing drivers in the Netherlands have been conducted to study their opinions about the system functionalities as well as their possible interactions with the platform and wishes for changes.
Abstract: Ride-sourcing has recently been at the centre of attention as the most disruptive mode of transport associated with the so-called shared mobility era Drivers, riders, the platform, policymakers, and the general public are considered as the main stakeholders of the system While ride-sourcing platforms have been growing, so did the heightened tension between them and their drivers That is why understanding drivers' behaviour and preferences is of key importance to ride-sourcing companies in managing their relationship with drivers (also known as driver-partners) and in retaining them in the presence of competence Ride-sourcing drivers are not only chauffeurs but fleet owners They can make various operational and tactical decisions that directly influence other stakeholders and the transport system performance as a whole Conducting a series of focus groups with ride-sourcing drivers in the Netherlands, we have studied their opinions about the system functionalities as well as their possible interactions with the platform and wishes for changes The focus group results suggest that the main decisions of drivers, which are ride acceptance, relocation strategies, working shift and area in which to work, could be affected by many elements depending on platform strategies, drivers' characteristics, riders' attributes, and exogenous factors We find that part-time and full-time drivers, as well as experienced and beginning drivers, are characterized by distinctive behaviour Flexibility and freedom were mentioned as the key reasons for joining the platform while an unfair reputation system, unreliable navigation algorithm, high competition between drivers, passenger-oriented platform, high-commission fee, and misleading guidance were acknowledged as being the main system drawbacks Based on our findings, we propose a conceptual model that frames the relationship between the tactical and operational decisions of drivers and related factors
30 citations
TL;DR: Results revealed that the integrated model for dynamic pricing and LIR decisions enjoys 79.33% improvement in the total expected profit for the supply chain under disruption compared to static pricing.
Abstract: In today's competitive world, with the increase in the complexity of supply chains, supply chain vulnerability to disruptions has increased. In this research, a multi-period location-inventory-routing (LIR) problem of perishable products is investigated under the disruption of routes in some periods. To make a resilient supply chain, two types of pricing namely dynamic pricing and disruptive pricing are applied to manage demands along with location, inventory, and routing decisions. In this regard, an integrated LIR model is developed considering disruption in routes, price-sensitive demand, and a product with a certain life-time. In this model, the price of retailers is a descending function of the time and product lifetime. The proposed model is devised as a mixed-integer non-linear programming model that maximizes the total profit of the supply chain. Due to the NP-hard nature of the problem, the research has developed an efficient genetic algorithm to solve large-sized problems. Computational experiments conducted indicating that the projected GA has an average gap of less than 2.66% from the optimal solution within a reasonable time. The performance of the integrated model, the efficiency of the proposed resilient strategy, and the impact of shelf-life are investigated in a case study. Results revealed that the integrated model for dynamic pricing and LIR decisions enjoys 79.33% improvement in the total expected profit for the supply chain under disruption compared to static pricing. As expected, by increasing the product's shelf-life, the profit of the supply chain increases in all pricing policies. It should be noted that applying the dynamic pricing policy, compared to the product's lifetime, enjoys a greater impact on supply chain profit under disruption. Moreover, there is a necessity to choose an appropriate pricing policy for markets with a different value of price elasticity.
29 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explore last-mile fulfilment options in regard to their energy efficiency and to develop guiding propositions for energy efficient last-mule fulfilment option for consumer goods.
Abstract: Purpose Last-mile fulfilment is among the most energy consuming logistics operations in the supply chain because of the vast amount of stops and low fill rates. The study's purpose is to explore last-mile fulfilment options in regard to their energy efficiency and to develop guiding propositions for energy efficient last-mile fulfilment options. Design/methodology/approach Interviews with Swedish retailers and their logistics service providers (LSPs) were conducted to compare different last-mile fulfilment options for consumer goods. Data of these options in respect to energy efficiency was analysed in regard to a framework with the components of distribution structure, transportation execution, and household logistics capability. Findings This study analysed the energy efficiency of six distinct options in the last-mile fulfilment. Since transportation in the last mile is highly energy consuming, energy could be saved in last-mile fulfilment when goods are carried as far as possible collectively down in the supply chain to collection points close to the point of consumption (POC) in commercial vehicles with high fill rates. The end consumer should be responsible for only the last part of the last mile. Proximity between private households and collection points increases the possibility that the consumer will walk or use public transportation. Practical implications This study provides insights to managers of logistics companies and retailers regarding how to save energy in last-mile logistics fulfilment. Originality/value Viewing consumers as co-producers of logistics solutions and aligning the distribution structure, transportation execution, and household logistics capability suggest propositions for the improved energy efficiency of last-mile fulfilment options in the supply chain.
28 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the emissions reduction potential of several measures, and assessed their efficacy compared with the targets set by the IMO initial strategy, and they showed that the examined measures are not sufficient on their own to achieve the desired levels of reductions, and that a combination will be necessary, while technological solutions will need to be made more competitive through market based instruments.
Abstract: In an effort to reduce carbon emissions from international shipping, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) developed its initial strategy in April 2018 setting ambitious targets for the sector. According to the initial strategy, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international shipping need to be reduced by at least 50% by 2050, and the CO2 emissions intensity by 40% by the year 2030, both compared to the 2008 levels. In order to achieve these goals, a combination of operational measures, investments in emissions abatement technology, and market-based measures will be necessary. The goals currently do not differentiate among different shipping sectors, and each sector faces different challenges. In this paper, we focus on short sea shipping (SSS), and on Ro-Pax services in particular that in general have not been examined thoroughly in the literature. We examine the emissions reduction potential of several measures, and we assess their efficacy compared with the targets set by the IMO initial strategy. The paper shows that the examined measures are not sufficient on their own to achieve the desired levels of reductions, and that a combination will be necessary, while technological solutions will need to be made more competitive through market based instruments.
27 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a rigorous corporate financial performance evaluation in the cruise sector is presented, which attempts to shed light on managerial financial efficiency, capital structure options, solvency conditions and corporate value dynamics.
Abstract: The global cruise industry has experienced persistent growth dynamics over the last two decades, with an impressive rebound after the 2008 financial crisis, unlike commercial shipping. Globalization, restructurings, mergers and a diverse bundle of travel and tourism services to cater for different passenger profiles have boosted robust revenue and profitability growth. Major cruise companies deploy ambitious investment plans to expand and renew their expensive fleet with larger modern vessels of high value. The mix of funding sources to finance these capital-intensive projects is critical and exerts a direct impact on the cost of capital. The paper contributes a rigorous corporate financial performance evaluation in the cruise sector and attempts to shed light on managerial financial efficiency, capital structure options, solvency conditions and corporate value dynamics. A sample of leading cruise companies, jointly holding a dominant market position, is incorporated to empirically investigate and assess their financial, accounting and stock market performance, based on convenient financial ratios and established market metrics. The detrimental impact of the recent coronavirus pandemic on the cruise sector is also discussed. This original study attempts to bridge the relevant research gap, as past literature remains surprisingly thin on this critical topic. A set of challenging and innovative contributions is delivered for the financial performance of major cruise companies, for the first time to the authors' knowledge, in support of efficient managerial implications and recommendations.
27 citations
TL;DR: An IPA-Kano model to classify and diagnose the service attributes of an airport and suggest opportunities for service improvement is presented and could help managers determine a correct and effective service improvement strategy for their airport.
Abstract: Considering the complexity of airport industry service offerings, it is important to identify which airport service attributes detract from passenger satisfaction and which attributes enhance it. Therefore, this study presents an IPA-Kano model to classify and diagnose the service attributes of an airport and suggests opportunities for service improvement. The model is validated through a case study of Taoyuan International Airport (TPE). The model combines the Kano model quality categories with the importance and performance of each service attribute and is developed for classifying and diagnosing service attributes at the TPE airport. As shown in this study, the proposed approach could help managers determine a correct and effective service improvement strategy for their airport. Another characteristic of the approach is its simplicity—advanced statistical knowledge is not required.
TL;DR: In this article, a Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) based model is developed to calculate the marginal probabilities of the risk factors and their sub-factors to determine the most sensitive factors/subfactors.
Abstract: Transportation is one of the logistical drivers in supply chains. Transportation disruption is costly in supply chains. This paper aims to assess transportation disruption risks using a Bayesian Belief Network (BBN). First, the disruption risk factors and their sub-factors were identified from the relevant articles and experts' opinions. The BBN-based model is developed to calculate the marginal probabilities of the risk factors and their sub-factors to determine the most sensitive factors/sub-factors. The framework was demonstrated using an example case of the pharmaceutical industry in Bangladesh. The findings reveal the usefulness of BBN in examining transportation disruptions in supply chains. BBN captured the interdependencies between the disruption risk factors/sub-factors effectively. The proposed model will be useful to managers for predicting transportation disruptions and to build resilient strategies to tackle them.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors evaluated the current social media behaviors of container shipping companies to help practitioners increase their engagement in relation to the algorithms of these platforms and found that the inclusion of emotional appeals increases the engagement level of the messages but direct-calls-to-purchase decreases.
Abstract: The importance of social media is increasing rapidly in the business world as in the lives of individuals. However, business-to-business (B2B) markets have difficulties in adapting to the newest 21st-century forms of communication. This study evaluates the current social media behaviors of container shipping companies to help practitioners increase their engagement in relation to the algorithms of these platforms. After identifying container shipping companies that use social media most actively, this study analyzed their Facebook messages in terms of branding, message appeals, direct-sales, and information cues, drawing on WOM psychological motivation theory and dual process theory. The study reveals that most companies do not use social media technology, and lack clear, generally accepted social media strategies. The analysis indicates that the inclusion of emotional appeals increases the engagement level of the messages but direct-calls-to-purchase decreases. Video and photo contents produce better engagement while video content increases virality. Finally, the number of fans of these companies no longer directly affects the engagement rate of posts with Facebook's changing News Feed algorithm. This means that the current engagement rate calculation methods in the literature have become obsolete. It is recommended that practitioners closely follow the ever-changing algorithms of social media channels and should not hesitate to use social media advertising.
TL;DR: This study analyzes the resilience of cities in the presence of airport disruptions at the global level, and finds that some countries have resilient cities, while others are more vulnerable to air-port disruptions.
Abstract: Improving the efficiency and resilience of air transportation is one of the major challenges in the 21st century. Large cities are often in the catchment area of multiple airports. Accordingly, the services at these airports can be comple-mentary or competitive; an airport-specific view of resilience neglects the effects of such interactions. In this study, we analyze the resilience of cities in the presence of airport disruptions. The major research question we address is: How much would the air accessibility of complete cities lose under the outage of a single airport? We perform a study at the global level, comparing the resilience of 5000 largest cities. Two types of passenger-focused measures are proposed to quantify the impact of airport disruption on the air accessibility of cities: The unaffected passengers and the reroutable passengers. We find that some countries have resilient cities, while others are more vulnerable to air-port disruptions. Our study contributes to the literature by a unique combination of city-view, accurate airport-to-city aggregation with road driving distance, and presence of real passenger data.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used the Slack-Based Measure (SBM) DEA-window analysis model to address the small sample issue during the first stage analysis and used an instrumental variable (IV) in the Tobit model to solve the endogeneity issue during second-stage analysis, which showed the positive impact of tourism, regional economic development, an airport's domestic networks, airport privatisation, low-cost carrier services and the Christchurch earthquakes on New Zealand airports' performance and efficiency.
Abstract: Airport efficiency is commonly estimated via data envelopment analysis (DEA). This data-driven non-parametric approach is more flexible than the parametric approach, because it does not require an a priori function for the frontier or a very big sample size. However, DEA loses its discriminatory power when the number of observed airports is small compared with the number of airport inputs and outputs examined, particularly when examining airports within a country. In addition, the endogeneity problem may exist if one attempts to examine the determinants of airport efficiency. This study used the Slack-Based Measure (SBM) DEA-Window Analysis model to address the small sample issue during the first-stage analysis and used an instrumental variable (IV) in the Tobit model to solve the endogeneity issue during the second-stage analysis. Data from a sample of 11 New Zealand airports between 2006 and 2017 were used for analysis. The key findings showed the positive impact of tourism, regional economic development, an airport's domestic networks, airport privatisation, low-cost carrier services and the Christchurch earthquakes on New Zealand airports' performance and efficiency, whereas an airport's international networks has a negative impact. The literature contribution and policy implications are also discussed.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the effects of sociological, psychological, and service marketing components on travellers' satisfaction and their intentions to revisit and to spread positive word-of-mouth.
Abstract: In the current competitive environment, airport managers are under growing pressure to attract more passengers and airlines, through the creation of desirable Airport Experiences. This study particularly delves into this newly emerged concept “Airport Experience, by examining the effects of AE's components on travellers' satisfaction and consequently their intentions to revisit and to spread word-of-mouth. Components of airport experience were measured from sociological, psychological, and services marketing perspectives. Data were collected from 377 travellers and were analysed using partial least squares technique. The findings show that service fairness, servicescape, service encounter, and self-service technologies have significant effects on travellers' satisfaction. Further, travellers' satisfaction is associated with their revisit intention and word of mouth. The findings of this study contribute to the literature by testing the impacts of sociological, psychological, and service marketing dimensions on travellers' satisfaction in one holistic model. The findings enable airport managers and marketers to develop effective strategies for increasing passengers' satisfaction, intentions to revisit, and spread positive word of mouth based on in-depth understating of the most influential airport experience elements.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the best intention-based model for predicting Iranian intention to use ridesharing services by developing an extension model of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) with the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB).
Abstract: Ridesharing platforms have dramatically flourished in the ‘sharing economy’. Despite the unforeseen growth of the sharing economy concept, there are limited studies regarding the behavioral aspects and the acceptance drivers of this phenomenon. This issue is the motivating factor of this study to investigate the best intention-based model for predicting Iranian intention to use ridesharing services by developing an extension model of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) with the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Data were obtained from a survey of 318 Iranian users. Structural equation modeling analysis using PLS software was employed to analyze the data. The findings of this study confirmed the effect of perceived usefulness on subjective norms, satisfaction, and behavioral intention. Furthermore, the impact of satisfaction on subjective norms and behavioral intention, and the impact of subjective norms on behavioral intention were confirmed. Finally, the effect of price value on behavioral intention and satisfaction was confirmed, but the effect of perceived ease of use on subjective norms was not significant. This study contributes to the literature by confirming the utility of the TAM and the TPB with price value and perceived satisfaction in predicting consumer intention to adopt ridesharing. The results appear particularly important for developing countries where ridesharing is at the early stage of development and there is disagreement among policymakers and managers about the development of it.
TL;DR: There is potential for reducing the actors´ turnaround times, increasing their access reliability, access precision, and access flexibility, and in relation to prior research results.
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to explore how and when the most beneficial and cost effective information attributes can be automatically exchanged between interoperable information systems of a seaport terminal operator, a road haulier, and a rail operator to potentially improve their access management. The automatically exchange of the attributes is dependent on interoperability between information systems of the involved actors. The interoperability is achieved through a developed application programming interface in this study. This case study adds to prior research by developing a cost-benefits analysis that categorises the attributes (from low cost / low benefit to high cost / high benefit) involving four strategies: data farming, dedicated information exchange, opportunistic information exchange, and avoiding information exchange. These four strategies are important in identifying when to collect the information attributes automatically to facilitate real-time decision-making and in turn potentially improve the access management for the involved actors. is developed in this case study to enable interoperability between the information systems of involved actors. As a change management tool, the cost-benefit analysis can also be used to identify and support transformation of attributes from one category to another. The empirical study included nine workshops resulting in the identification of the most beneficial and cost effective information attributes: deviation information, direction, driver ID, estimated time of arrival, goods priority information, intermodal transport unit (ITU) ID, ITU status, opening hours, shipment ID, and vehicle ID. The attributes must be automatically exchanged according to three identified time phases: one week before, one day before, and two hours before the ITUs are to be picked up at the terminal. By exchanging these attributes between the interoperable actors´ information systems, there is potential for reducing the actors´ turnaround times, increasing their access reliability, access precision, and access flexibility. Finally, two propositions are formulated from the empirical findings and in relation to prior research results.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyzed the impacts of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC) on freight market structures of West China, Central Asia, the ASEAN countries and the EU.
Abstract: The New International Land–Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC) is a trade and multimodal transport corridor jointly built by the western Chinese provinces and the ASEAN countries. The ILSTC treats Chongqing and the Beibu Gulf ports of mainland China, Hong Kong and Singapore as different transport hubs through which it attempts to link the western provinces of China with the ASEAN countries. International trade among the ASEAN countries, Central Asia and the EU can also be improved by the existing China Railway (CR) Express service from western Chinese cities. To analyze the impacts of the ILSTC on the freight market structures of West China, Central Asia, the ASEAN countries and the EU, first, the current freight transport route alternatives and those of the ILSTC were selected as the study objectives. Second, data on freight route alternatives were collected and analyzed. Third, the choice behavior in freight transport and the market share of the ILSTC were determined and calculated using a multinomial logit model. The impacts of the ILSTC on freight transport structures are discussed and related suggestions for the development of international logistic service providers are proposed.
TL;DR: The current state of research since 2008 on the specific categories of those models by the means of a systematic literature review are summarized and main fields for future research are identified.
Abstract: Multimodal transportation, which refers to the combination of different modes in a transportation chain, can be a cost-efficient and green alternative to unimodal road transportation in the carriage of goods. However, the complex transportation processes require network flow planning and design models on a tactical level covering the multiple stages and paths of a multimodal network for determining cost-minimal and reliable operations. This paper summarizes the current state of research since 2008 on the specific categories of those models by the means of a systematic literature review. The references within each category are evaluated in terms of problem characteristics, model formulations and solution approaches. Moreover, the research streams on deterministic and stochastic models (including uncertain demand, transportation times, costs and capacities) are compared. Finally, main fields for future research, among others the further inclusion of environmental aspects and the more frequent application of simulation as solution approach, are identified.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the sustainability of ship supply chain practices through the lenses of contract dynamics among actors, including sourcing patterns, consumption patterns, pricing, and delivery patterns, and highlighted the challenge the industry is facing at reconciling the risks of climate change with sustainable cruise supply chains.
Abstract: Cruise shipping supply chains have unique characteristics where product and service providers accommodate stringent requirements related to the nature of the cruise product. Since cruise ships are floating resorts that must be resupplied during their short port rotations, they require customized procurement practices. The sustainability of such practices is investigated through the lenses of contract dynamics among actors, including sourcing patterns, consumption patterns, pricing, and delivery patterns. The disruptions caused by hurricanes in the Caribbean underline the challenge the industry is facing at reconciling the risks of climate change with sustainable cruise supply chains.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors proposed a robust customer satisfaction index for air domestic journeys (RCSI), which could be less sensitive to outlier data than index scores based on the American customer satisfaction Index (ACSI) formulation.
Abstract: This research proposes a Robust Customer Satisfaction Index for air domestic journeys (RCSI), which could be less sensitive to outlier data than index scores based on the American customer satisfaction index (ACSI) formulation. Since traveler experiences in air journeys are a chain of services related to departure airport service, airline service, and arrival airport service, a new index for measuring passenger satisfaction for air journeys is required. In a sense then, this study is the first step towards integrating satisfaction literature to propose a robust index for air journeys. The Structural Equation Model (SEM) was used to validate the theoretical model. The RCSI model was tested in the context of Colombian major domestic air-route where traveler's perceived quality and perceived value were found to predict significantly overall passenger satisfaction. In this study, we found that the RCSI score is similar to the average for the airline industry in ACSI. The findings show that the RCSI is less sensitive to outlier data than customer satisfaction indexes (CSIs) based on the ACSI model formulation. The RCSI model also allows the airline and airport managers to understand the specific factors, which significantly influence overall traveler satisfaction, by reading the causal relationship in the RCSI model.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used aggregated choice models to estimate overall price, income, speed and frequency elasticities for urban public transport demand in the country, and found high demand elasticities to price and frequency, while demand responds moderately to speed.
Abstract: The article studies the demand for public transport in Colombian cities, identifying the main determinants explaining market shares for transit services We used aggregated choice models to estimate overall price, income, speed and frequency elasticities for urban public transport demand in the country The model successfully accounts for unobservable information about attributes of alternative public transport modes The results suggest high demand elasticities to price and frequency, while demand responds moderately to speed We also find a negative income elasticity, which classifies public transport as an inferior good Results provide relevant information for the current discussion about new transport systems in cities of developing countries, with a deeper understanding of the elements to consider in the design of public transport policies
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors defined how the design of a customer satisfaction questionnaire should be conducted and proposed two evaluation scales: one for asking a judgment about the quality of each service aspect, and one for assessing the level of satisfaction with it.
Abstract: The growing competition between the airlines has driven them to customer centered strategies Knowing how users evaluate the quality of service is important to direct the marketing strategies Customer Satisfaction Surveys (CSS) are carried out just for this purpose This paper aims to define how the design of a CSS questionnaire should be conducted After a preliminary draft of the questionnaire, a panel of experts was contacted for collecting suggestions to improve it People who travelled by air were requested to evaluate some aspects of the services provided by the airlines Two different evaluation scales were adopted: one for asking a judgment about the quality of each service aspect, and one for asking a level of satisfaction with it Then, a Pilot Survey (PS) was launched to refine the survey design and to verify the convenience of using two evaluation scales and/or to define the best scale to be adopted Finally, the results registered from the large-scale survey revealed that the use of both the evaluation scales is convenient and useful for discovering the different perceptions of users and specifically their satisfaction level in relation to their judgments on each service aspect
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors explored the effects of public transport equity in relation to the quality of public transportation, public participation, and public transport-related policy using Shenyang as a case study.
Abstract: In China, with the rapid development of urbanisation, the contradiction between supply and demand has become increasingly severe, particularly in large and medium-sized cities. Improving public transport equity can help to reduce the social exclusion of lower-income and socially vulnerable groups in relation to the urban transport system, and guarantee that public transport systems are given priority in terms of development. Using the concept of transport-related social equity, this study aims to explore the effects of public transport equity in relation to the quality of public transport, public participation, and public transport-related policy using Shenyang as a case study. Data are analysed using Structural Equation Model (SEM). Our findings show that the three latent variables of accessibility, affordability, and social impacts can be seen as representing the main characteristics of public transport equity; while improvements in public transport quality, public participation, and public transport-related polices play a significant role in reducing public transport inequity. Moreover, the findings indicate that public participation has direct, significant, positive influences on public transport quality and public transport-related policies. In terms of policy implications, we suggest that policies designed to improve public transport service quality, extend public transport fare concessions, and promote public participation in the public transport policy decision-making process should be given priority in the next round of urban comprehensive planning in order to reduce public transport-related social inequity in Shenyang and China more generally.
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors examined whether transport development and the institution of intellectual property rights (IPRs) can assist in understanding disparities between cities in terms of innovation, using the Yangtze River Delta Region (YRDR) as a case study.
Abstract: The links between transport development and economic growth have been widely discussed in the field of transport governance and economics. However, the existing studies have not included an institutional variable when exploring the role of transport development in innovation disparities within a region. In order to fill the research gap, this paper examines whether transport development and the institution of intellectual property rights (IPRs) can assist in understanding disparities between cities in terms of innovation, using the Yangtze River Delta Region (YRDR) as a case study. The impact mechanism is twofold. Firstly, transport development can affect institutions, including IPRs protection, which in turn has an influence on innovation. Secondly, evidence from existing economic literature suggests a link between transport development and innovation through economic agglomeration, production factors and industrial flows. We first employ ordinary least squares (OLS) regression to test the basic associations between transport development and innovation. We then apply two-stage least squares (2SLS) regression analysis to address endogeneity and add a spatial model to examine neighbour effects. The findings show that IPRs protection has a positive effect on patenting and research and development (R&D), while the roles played by transport development stock and density in patenting and R&D are more mixed. Moreover, our findings on neighbour effects show that agglomeration economies exist in the YRDR. These findings have important policy implications regarding urban agglomeration for both the YRDR specifically and China overall.
TL;DR: Examination of criteria structuring cruise lines decisions of which port to use for home-porting with the use of a database constructed with input from cruise lines, ports and cruise terminal operators, and stakeholders identifies the evolution and potential alterations of this hierarchy ofHome-porting selection criteria.
Abstract: Cruise ports seek to secure cruise calls, with most of them competing to accommodate the most profitable activities of all: home-porting. Meanwhile, an uninterrupted growth of cruise activities is based on the evolution of renewed business strategies that alter home-porting selection criteria. The present study examines the criteria structuring cruise lines decisions of which port to use for home-porting with the use of a database constructed with input from cruise lines, ports and cruise terminal operators, and stakeholders. Methodologically, it does so via a survey and the analysis (descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, and Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric test) of the 109 replies received. The collected empirical data reveals (a) the hierarchy of the home-porting selection criteria; (b) the variance of the perspectives of cruise lines, cruise ports, and other stakeholders; and (c) the role of the experience of cruise professionals in shaping their assessment of the significance of each criterion - while the comparison of the findings with those of past researches identifies the evolution and potential alterations of this hierarchy of home-porting selection criteria.
TL;DR: The results show that both technical and functional quality play a role in determining satisfaction with airlines, though passengers are more satisfied with functional quality than technical quality.
Abstract: This study investigates airline passenger satisfaction and service quality in the U.S. market, employing fuzzy logic and fuzzy segmentation methods. Elasticities are then determined to evaluate the sensitivity of satisfaction based on service quality attributes. The survey was developed consistent with functional and technical quality and from existing airline service quality and satisfaction literature. Data were collected online using Amazon Mechanical Turk, resulting in 624 respondents. The results show that both technical and functional quality play a role in determining satisfaction with airlines, though passengers are more satisfied with functional quality than technical quality. Overall, a majority of airline passengers are indifferent; they are neither satisfied nor unsatisfied toward airline service quality. Additionally, this research introduced additional factors in the analysis that have not been previously researched laying the groundwork for future research.
TL;DR: The main factors leading to charter flight departure delay through data mining are identified using a broader data mining approach supported by an extensive data understanding and preparation stage using both proprietary and open access data sources to build a comprehensive dataset.
Abstract: This study aims to identify the main factors leading to charter flight departure delay through data mining. The data sample analysed consists of 5484 flights operated by a European airline between 2014 and 2017. The tuned dataset of 33 features was used for modelling departure delay (e.g., if the flight delayed >15 min). The results proved the value of the proposed approach by an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.831 and supported knowledge extraction through the data-based sensitivity analysis. The features related to previous flight delay information were considered as being the most influential toward current flight being delayed or not, which is consistent with the propagating effect of flight delays. However, it is not the reason for the previous delay nor the delay duration that accounted for the most relevance. Instead, a computed feature indicating if there were two or more registered reasons accounted for 33% of relevance. The contributions include also using a broader data mining approach supported by an extensive data understanding and preparation stage using both proprietary and open access data sources to build a comprehensive dataset.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors focus on one important commodity group (grain) in three EC member states and one non-member state (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Ukraine) to examine what appear to be the binding constraints to increases in rail's share.
Abstract: The European Commission adopted in 1991 a policy of encouraging the substitution of motor carrier haulage of freight with rail and water carrier haulage, as part of its “green” agenda of reducing fuel consumption, emission of pollutants, carbon intensity, and road congestion. Regarding railway freight in particular, one policy tool that the Commission has emphasized for this purpose is the restructuring of the rail sectors of member countries through the creation of competition for the incumbents by new train-operating companies (TOC's) – seemingly a less obvious policy choice than alternatives such as Pigouvian taxation measures or infrastructure subsidies. This paper focuses on one important commodity group – grain – in three EC member states and one non-member state – Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Ukraine – to examine what appear to be the binding constraints to increases in rail's share. Such constraints seem more closely related to shortages in infrastructure capacity than to a lack of competition among TOC's. Our findings suggest that a policy focused more directly on infrastructure investment – whether an increase in subsidies or alternative strategies for attracting private investment into infrastructure, including alternative reform models – will be required if the current constraints binding rail's share are to be relaxed.