SURFACE ACCESS ISSUES AT A REGIONAL AIRPORT IN THE UK: THE CASE STUDY OF ROBIN HOOD AIRPORT DONCASTER SHEFFIELD

摘要

Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield (RHADS) is a relatively new regional UK airport inSouth Yorkshire. Opened in 2005;;RHADS handled 840;;000 passengers in 2011 and now hasflights to over 30 destinations. The purpose of this paper is to examine surface access issuesat RHADS;;based upon a survey of 438 passengers at the airport in July/August 2012. Forenvironmental reasons;;there is a need to reduce surface access journeys by private car(particularly ‘drop-off/pick-up’ trips) and increase public transport usage. Most of thepassengers surveyed (80%) had travelled to RHADS by car;;either via drop-off/pick-up or avehicle parked at the airport;;typically holidaymakers;;those in groups and those with a lot ofluggage. A range of surface access issues are examined: the important for passengers to see(or be seen off) by their families;;car parking costs;;the role of luggage and the publictransport services. Surface access transport developments (e.g. road & rail schemes) andtechnological innovations (e.g. telepresence;;software to encourage ride-sharing and baggagetagging) are evaluated. Discussion includes the transferability of the surface access findingsto other airports.