BACKGROUND

The volume of e-commerce air cargo has increased in recent years. The relationships between airports and their stakeholders are evolving to accommodate emerging e-commerce supply chain needs that drive air cargo service strategies, investments, and modernized infrastructures to provide an efficient transportation experience. The supply chain relationships resulting from the subsets of air cargo within e-commerce activities, such as integrators (e.g., Amazon) and non-integrators (e.g., U.S. Postal Service), help influence decision-making. Some of the research gaps in the air cargo industry include addressing the lack of data collection for e-commerce cargo, understanding airports’ air cargo policies, and the economic impact of e-commerce to the airport’s local community, region, and abroad. This research will examine, at a minimum, the relationships of the airport e-commerce supply chain, strategies related to determining economic impacts, data collection, and potential opportunities and opportunity costs.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this research is to develop a guide and research report about the supply chain relationships between airports and airport stakeholders. This research will enable airport industry professionals and governing bodies to formulate strategies and determine the economic impact of e-commerce activities on airports and their stakeholders. The research will examine potential opportunities and opportunity costs in e-commerce for the airport industry and its stakeholders.

STATUS: Research is underway.