Assessment of the development of the European Union’s airport sector under economic globalization conditions

Abstract

Object of research: the development and assessment of the European Union’s airport sector under economic globalization. This study conducts a comprehensive analysis of economic globalization theories, examining the key drivers of globalization, their effects on various economic sectors, and their specific linkages to transportation infrastructure. Considering the European Union’s economic policies and transport sector development strategies, the study evaluates the existing assessment tools used to measure economic globalization in the airport sector. The research provides an in-depth examination of the effects of specific globalization processes – economic integration, capital mobility, trade liberalization, and digitalization – on the European Union’s airport sector. To empirically assess the impact of globalization conditions on airport operations, a comparative analysis of the development of major EU airports has been conducted. This analysis evaluates key indicators such as passenger flows, cargo volumes, infrastructure investments, and the accessibility of air transport services, considering the influence of globalization factors. The empirical part of the study employs Pearson correlation analysis to identify linear relationships between passenger numbers, flight frequency, and key macroeconomic indicators, including GDP growth and inflation rates. The research focuses on the airport sector of the Baltic states, analysed as a specific regional area that provides insights into the impact of globalization on smaller yet strategically significant EU markets. The findings of the study contribute to a deeper understanding of globalization trends in the air transport sector and offer policy recommendations for further integrating the EU’s air transport system into the global economy.