Exploring business travellers & perspectives of airlines servicing regional airports: a case of the South West, UK

Abstract

Most studies of traveller’s perspectives and motivations have been conducted from the perspective of the leisure tourist. This paper sets to identify the above patterns from a business tourist perspective. An extensive literature review was carried out prior to the formulation of the questionnaire. Factors found to be critical in previous literatures and questions developed from the research’s conceptual framework were included in the questionnaire. Primary data was collected via a judgement sample, using self completion questionnaires at a South West regional airport in the UK. The data was analysed using SPSS. A literature search revealed that key literature concentrated heavily upon long-haul travel markets without the consideration of a business traveller’s motivations and perspectives. Although, the results from this research identified that service quality has been to enhance service loyalty, small scale airports have been found to cater to business travellers needs. The results of the study provide greater depth and a basis for future study so as to advance the investigation of business travel in relation to small scale and low cost carriers.

Keywords: Business travellers; regional airports; travel motivations

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