THE COMPETITIVENESS OF AIRPORT REGIONS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA : The Lesson from Two Arch Rivals in Europe

Abstract

Nowadays, airports are not just the place for aviation. In globally operating markets, airports have become critical assets in the competition between regions. From the example of two arch rivals in European Union, namely Amsterdam and Frankfurt, two different development models are nominated - the Aerotropolis Model and the Efficient Gateway Model. The conditions of each model and their applications are analysed and compared to Changi Airport (Singapore) and Suvarnabhumi Airport (Thailand). Changi Airport, surrounded by highly developed areas, has a great potential to be the heart of an Aerotropolis. In contrast, Suvarnabhumi Airport is surrounded by floodplain and farmland on the eastern vicinity of Bangkok. The development conditions of Thailand’s major airport could get along well to the Efficient Gateway rather than the Aerotropolis Concept.