PROSPECTS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF AIRPORT «PLATOV» (ROSTOV-ON-DON) COPING WITH CRISIS CAUSED BY IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

Effective development of regional airports in structure of the passenger air transportation market of Russian Federation is a fundamental task of development in conditions of overcoming the crisis of 2020. According to IATA experts (International Air Transport Agency), the results of introduction of temporary restrictive and prohibitive measures for passenger air transportation, significant number of countries around the world, total drop in passenger traffic by the end of 2020 will reach 60 %. «Platov» airport (Rostov-on-Don) is one of the leading regional airports of Southern Federal District, occupying an important role in structure of regional logistics system. Important structural feature of airport «Platov» is the status of a hub (base airport) for regional Russian airline «Azimut», which demonstrates high growth and development rates. Result of research in article was the creation of model for prospective development of new directions. Structural feature of proposed model of long-term development of «Platov» airport is the expansion of both the domestic route network and increase in number of destinations of foreign budget airlines. European experience of overcoming of consequences of world financial crisis of 2008 proved the effectiveness of development of budget air travel, so if in 2008 the share of budget airlines in structure of European passenger market share does not exceed 10 %, then, at the end of 2019, share of budget airlines in structure of European market has reached 50 % of total passenger traffic.