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Benefits of public–private cooperation: The case study of Seve Ballesteros-Santander Airport in Spain
Journal of Airport Management,
18
(2),
156-173
(2024)
Abstract
Seve Ballesteros-Santander Airport (SDR/LEXJ) is a success story among Europe’s small regional airports. This success is due, among other factors, to: 1) the commitment to the promotion of connectivity and tourism by the successive regional governments of Cantabria, one of the 17 regions making up Spain; 2) the management of the infrastructure carried out by Aena, with intense modernisation and expansion of the airport; and 3) the commitment of the airlines to Cantabria through the development of a large network of air routes, especially Ryanair, but also Air Nostrum, Vueling, Iberia, Volotea, Wizz Air and Binter. In the last 20 years, the airport’s traffic volume has quadrupled from 250.000 passengers to one million. The number of destinations has increased from just a few frequencies to Madrid and Barcelona to 30 destinations covering the whole of Spain and providing connectivity to the main European capitals and major cities. This paper will analyse some of the factors, including supply and demand, that have given rise to this success. It will also discuss the economic impact of the airport on the region and some of the main opportunities and challenges it will face throughout the coming years.
Keywords: public–private collaboration; airlines; connectivity; public policy; welfare
The full article is available to subscribers to the journal.
Author's Biography
Javier Gundelfinger holds a PhD in economics from the University of the Basque Country, the University of Cantabria and the University of Oviedo. He is an Assistant Professor in areas such as business administration and management, international transport and trade, hotel and tourism management at the University of Cantabria. Javier combines his academic work with his main work in the Transport and Tourism Department of the Government of Cantabria, Spain. His research interests are primarily focused on air transport and tourism. His current research is centred on the relationship between transport and tourism. He has published academic articles in, among others, Utilities Policy, the Journal of Air Transport Management and Transport Policy. He has also carried out several funded research projects on the application of information technologies for competitiveness and innovation related to transport and tourism.
