The competitiveness of ferry and air transport in the Baltic Sea Region: infrastructure approach

¹ Faculty of Management and Economics of Services, University of Szczecin, 8 Cukrowa St., 71-004 Szczecin, Poland
² Presenting author: Faculty of Economics, University of Gdańsk, 119/121 Armii Krajowej St., 81-824 Sopot, Poland

e-mail: marta.mankowska@wzieu.pl
e-mail: dariusz.tloczynski@ug.edu.pl

Abstract

The main aim of the article is attempt to get the answer to the question about the impact of services offered by point elements of transport infrastructure on meeting the expectations and preferences of passengers in various modes of transport. Based on the presented objective, the assessment of the competitiveness of air and ferry transport in the service of passenger traffic was carried out through taking into the consideration selected elements affecting the quality of services offered by airports and ferry terminals. One of the key factors of the competitiveness of ports is time availability. The main objective of the research undertaken in the article was therefore to assess the competitiveness of seaports and airports in terms of their time availability. The article uses the case study method of selected airports and ferry terminals located in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR). The comparative analysis covered the time competitiveness of port ground access. The results of the research allow to make a general conclusion that ferry terminals have better ground access for individual car journeys and airports are becoming more competitive in the case of the arrival and departure function of public transport. This indicates that the system of ground access for seaports and airports is adapted to the segment of passengers having the largest share in transport by the analyzed transport branches, i.e. the motorized passengers in ferry transport and non-motorized passengers in air transport.