Highlights The short-haul Chinese aviation system is in a period of rapid growth particularly in the less dense regions. Chinese aviation system growth will come from second tier cities well suited for turboprop aircraft. Utilizing turboprops on all existing short-haul routes results in positive fuel/travel time trade-off. Future airport construction and expansion provides a unique opportunity to utilize turboprops. We estimate that many new routes could be well served by turboprops.
Abstract The Chinese aviation system is in a period of rapid growth, with significant growth in second tier and emerging cities. Lower density cities could be well served by regional aircraft, either regional jets or turboprops, which offer different qualities and a different future for Chinese aviation. Turboprops offer a high level of fuel efficiency compared with regional jets which may improve the cost economics for carriers and reduce the air quality and climate impacts of a growing aviation system in a region where air quality and greenhouse gas emissions are a serious concern. However, regional jets are known for their superior quality of service and faster travel speeds. We begin with a spatial analysis of existing Chinese short-haul aviation networks and find that turboprops are deployed in limited number and are dispersed throughout the country. Their limited use, however, is not because of their cost economics. For the existing regional jet network we estimate the trade space of fuel and time for the replacement of regional jets with turboprops and find that all regional jet routes in China would generate savings if replaced with turboprops. We next establish future short-haul aviation routes between new and emerging airports and estimate the likelihood that a turboprop will be used. The finding that the most viable turboprop markets are spatially dispersed through the country validates considering turboprop investment at the state-level as a component of the established Chinese aviation sustainability initiative.
The role of turboprops in China’s growing aviation system
Journal of Transport Geography ; 40 ; 133-144
2014-01-01
12 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
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