A study of criteria for air cargo terminal classification model

Abstract

Global air cargo transportation has performed a significant role to the trade industry over the past decades for goods delivery. Airlines transport approximately 51.3 million metric tons of goods, or more than one third of worldwide trade or USD 6.8 trillion by value annually. Air cargo terminal is a key success of airlines in the supply chain network at airports. This study is aimed to explore and analyze important criteria of air cargo terminals on the integration of 63 criteria from previous researches of practical operations and International Air Transport Association regulated standard services. To examine reviewed criteria, this paper investigates the criteria significance by 57 of 75 air cargo terminal operators around the world except in Thailand covering 474 air cargo terminals in 6 continents. Also, this research cooperatively evaluates the criteria and employs Factor Analysis by using Principal Component Analysis program for criteria reduction with the similarity. The result of final validation from aviation experts, academicians, government bodies, air cargo logistics service providers and airlines in air cargo related industries reveal that 9 integrated criteria with 44 sub-criteria and factors loading scores are remained important. The significant criteria are studied with air cargo terminal operators in Suvarnabhumi, Chiang Mai, Don Muang and Phuket international airports as a sampling to testify the criteria and model from the first phase finding. There are 5 of 7 operators who participate this assessment only in Suvarnabhumi, Chiang Mai and Phuket international airports. Raw data is given and input in Hierarchical Cluster Analysis program to cluster all 5 air cargo terminal operators into 2, 3 and 4 classifications homogenously. Thai Airways as an air cargo terminal operator in Suvarnabhumi international airport is clustered separately in one classification and obviously outstanding from the other 4 air cargo terminal operators and all classification are presented. Still, strength and weakness of Thai Airways in each criteria and all 9 main criteria are analyzed as results from second phase finding of this research and compared with the best practice of air cargo airport namely Hong Kong international airport. Also, this is proven that the significant criteria are workable and practical for air cargo terminal classification model as a new body of knowledge for third phase finding. Later, the 9 main criteria with 44 sub-criteria and factor loading scores are constructed into the guideline and check list that are available for academicians, air cargo terminal operators, government bodies and interested stake holders around the world to prepare and apply to their business and academic purposes.