Question 1
Philadelphia Airport made infrastructural efforts, in 2012, to expand it size to improve its operations and reduce delays. Taxiways can be resurfaced and expanded to ensure that passengers coming or leaving the airport can do so quickly hence ensuring that there is minimal congestion at the airport. Expansion of the runways allows airports to be able to handle more aircraft at a single moment time is another option. At the Philadelphia airport, there were two runway expansion projects and construction of a new runway. This means that the passenger traffic can move faster and delays can be faced out. Increasing the number of airlines will improve the capacity of most airports. This may include scheduling of private flights when the main airlines are delayed due to weather conditions.
Link: http://www.asce.org/CEMagazine/Article.aspx?id=25769809670#.UzQclc7KPIU
Question 2
Small airports make use of advertising and marketing strategies to ensure they reach the target audience. This aims at making members of public aware the various packages that exist. The travel costs are made affordable to encourage more people to use these airlines. Airlines ensure that there is a minimal flow of revenue for each business day or week. They enter into agreements with airports to ensure that the shortfalls are covered by the airports. This ensures maximum efficiency at the airport. Other airports use purchase of guaranteed tickets also aid in attracting more passengers and hence increase in revenues Airports also provide cost subsidies, including waivers on certain services, such as landing fees.
Question 3
One of the ways of determining the catchment area for this airport is through use of surface travel maps. These act as an indicator of the flow of air traffic and the competition that currently exists at Daytona. Furthermore, population densities can be used as an indicator of areas that may airline services (especially high population densities).The level of business activities may also be used as an indicator of possible growth into international trade hence necessitating provision of airline services at DAB.