A response to ‘Understanding the complexities and challenges of airport performance benchmarking’

Abstract

Airport benchmarking is receiving increasing attention by airports, airlines, governments, industry analysts and academic researchers. Recognising the complex nature of airports, most people realise that airport benchmarking is not a precise science, as differing physical characteristics of airports, varying ownership and regulatory frameworks, and disparate business models can all distort comparisons. In particular, it is nearly impossible to measure capital inputs consistently across airports in different countries. However, econometric techniques are available to handle the differences in airport characteristics beyond managerial control. It is important to benchmark airports because airlines, passengers and society need such assessments, and because, as Peter Drucker says, ‘what you cannot measure, you cannot manage’.