Globalization and the ensuing changes in the supply chain network have strengthened competition among airports. This study selects 13 primary airports in the Asia Pacific region and investigates their competition, airport hierarchy, and competitive potential in cargo markets on both the demand and supply aspects. In particular, indicators, such as flight frequency, route distributions, composition of flag carriers, international trade, and the centrality of the selected airports are examined. The results show that Taiwan Taoyuan (TPE), Hong Kong (HKG), Shanghai Pudong (PVG), and Incheon Airport (ICN) had the most competitive advantage with distinct development patterns. Unlike TPE and ICN who were flag-carrier-oriented, HKG and PVG were well developed in both the flag- and foreigncarriers’ network. While TPE and ICN performed well in conventional carriers’ networks, PVG performed well in all-freight carriers’ networks, and HKG performed well in both conventional and all-freight carriers’ networks. Overall, HKG has been playing a leading role in the Asia Pacific air cargo market. Nevertheless, taking the integrator carriers’ networks into consideration, Chinese airports have the most potential in the region.
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