WHICH FACTORS ARE BEHIND THE EXISTENCE OF REGIONAL AIR CARRIERS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION MEMBER COUNTRIES?

Abstract

This paper provides the design of two econometric models using the quantitative factors such as the existence of the low-cost carrier(s) in examined countries, GDP per capita, the area of countries, the number of inhabitants and other factors to answer the question which factors are behind the existence of regional air carriers in the EU´s member countries. One model (aimed at the existence of regional air carriers) was tested. The results of the test point to the necessity to work with the second version of the model in future. Such model would be aimed at the number of regional air carriers including also other variables (for instance old vs new member countries).