Research on the Operational Efficiency of Airlines Based on the Characteristics of Airport Clusters

The features of airport clusters have a big impact on regional air transport. But problems within these clusters also affect airline operations. This study uses the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model. It selects 16 airlines of different sizes as samples. It also identifies relevant input and output indicators to measure operational efficiency. The results show that the efficiency of large and medium-sized airlines generally went up. Small airlines have shown a slow but steady improvement in efficiency, with significant volatility due to cost and slot constraints. So, the study analyzes pure technical efficiency, scale efficiency, and comprehensive efficiency. It finds out the changing patterns of operational efficiency among airlines of different sizes and the reasons behind them.