Sectors > Air Travel, Surface Access & Airline Passenger Research

As a leading transport planning consultancy, MVA has always been a leader in the field and the BMSR group has equally undertaken wide range of market research and household surveys either in its own right or as an integral component of strategic planning and transport studies.

• Air Traffic Market Study for Hong Kong International Airport

MVA led a major market study for the Hong Kong Airport Authority to assess the long-term air passenger travel demand of Hong Kong International Airport, including a review of its long-term air cargo growth.

• Comprehensive Traffic Forecast Study for Hong Kong International Airport

In this 9-month study carried out in 1994, commissioned by the Hong Kong Provisional Airport Authority, MVA carried out a fundamental review of Hong Kong’s role as an air hub and the impacts of competition from other regional airports. It also entailed the development of a customized demand model for the use by the Authority, providing primary forecasts of passengers, cargo and aircraft movements; and secondary forecasts of airside, terminal and surface access demands. The model provided air passenger, air cargo forecasts linked through to ground access models for the Airport Railway and all road-based modes and ferry. This model was adopted by the Airport Authority for its planning work.

• Study of Air Travel Demand in Guangdong and Hong Kong International Airport’s Surface Transport Connectivity Strategy

MVA undertook a major study for the Hong Kong Airport Authority to estimate the likely growth in aviation demand in Guangdong Province in the short to medium term and assessed ways in which HKIA can expand its market share in Guangdong Province in the next 5-10 years. The study entailed significant research and data collection exercises as well as specific assessments of a number of surface transport connectivity strategies to enhance access to HKIA.

• Pre-feasibility Study of Fuzhou Airport, China

MVA, in association with engineering consultants, carried out a major pre-feasibility study commissioned by an agency of the UK Government of the Fuzhou Changle Airport and the associated toll road and bridge links to the airport. Specifically, MVA was responsible for the review of the airport and road/bridge demand forecasts and the assessment of the financial performance of the airport as a private investment. In addition, a review of the key Chinese proposals for the financing of the projects was also carried out.

• Audit of Air Traffic Forecasts in Support of Privatization of International Airports at Brisbane and Perth, Australia

MVA carried out a review of air forecasts and government documents relating to domestic and international passengers using some of Australia’s major airports. This included a close examination of the Asian air passenger market and its impacts on Australia’s international passenger demand. The assessment made by MVA has been successfully used by the Client as the basis for bidding for the right to own and operate Brisbane airport and in support of loan syndication.

• Airline Research on Loyalty Marketing

MVA evaluated loyalty and reward programmers for a major Asian-based airline and its subsidiary company. This research collected opinions and ideas through focus groups for improvement from different consumer groups across seven major markets in Asia.

• Airline Passenger Prioritization of Products and Services

MVA completed a major market research survey, commissioned by a leading Asia-based airline company, to establish the relative monetary valuation of its passengers’ preferences for a range of existing and potential product and services. The research, which was carried out by major market segments, used Stated Preference face-to-face surveys as the main tool to understand customer preferences and values for the various products and services.

• Airline Schedule Research

MVA undertook a customer satisfaction study for a major Asia-based airline with regards to airline schedules. The study involved research in six geographical markets worldwide including Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Sydney, Vancouver and London. The research included in-depth face-to-face interviews with travel agents, focus groups with frequent travelers and a Stated Preference face-to-face survey of travelers. The study identified passenger preferences for both business and leisure travel with regards to airline schedules and time slots recommended for expansion.

• Airline Product Plan Appraisal

MVA undertook a major Stated Preference face-to-face interview survey study for a major Asia-based airline of its passengers’ preferences, which included a number of attributes not previously researched. Considerable design effort was involved including qualitative research with passengers of different nationalities and extensive piloting of the Stated Preference survey design itself under field conditions. The experiment was presented on computer assisted personal interviewing tools in three languages.

MVA, in a subsequent study, applied the Stated Preference survey methodology to better understand passengers' values on a route basis as the airline's routes have very different passenger profiles.

• Domestic Heliport Development

MVA undertook an assignment, commissioned by the Civil Aviation Department, to assess the financial viability of a proposed heliport development within the harbour limits of Hong Kong, including a review of the demand for domestic helicopter services.

• Research Study on Helicopter Market and Heliport Development in Hong Kong

MVA undertook a major 14-month strategic marketing and institutional study, on behalf of the Hong Kong Government, to examine the future growth potential for domestic helicopter services (including tourism flights) as well as cross-boundary services to/from the Pearl River Delta region, and to formulate a strategy for future heliport development in Hong Kong including its funding and management. The Study also examined potential sites for future heliport expansion and development, including the site zoned for heliport development on the rooftop of the planned cruise terminal at Southeast Kowloon Development. As part of the research, extensive in-depth interviews have been undertaken with key stakeholders in both the SAR and the PRD as well as focus group discussions and intercept interviews with various target market segments. In 2005, MVA undertook an update of the financial evaluation exercise.

• Preliminary Market Assessment for Cross-Boundary Helicopter Services

MVA, as part of a multi-disciplinary team of consultants commissioned by a private investor to examine the development potential of a site in Hong Kong, is presently leading the preliminary market assessment for the provision of cross-boundary helicopter services.

• Duty-Free Shopping Survey Research

MVA carried out face-to-face interview surveys among departing air passengers at Hong Kong’s Cheek Lap Kook International Airport to gauge preferences and behavior for shopping in airport duty free shops. Research included surveying air passengers from around the world with an emphasis on North Asian, European and American shoppers.

• Research into Airport Express Passengers Travel Attributes

MVA was first commissioned by MTR Corporation Limited to develop a pricing model to evaluate revenue and ridership based on fare and service level of the Airport Express. Model development included data collection of over 5,000 face-to-face interviews with travelers and over 1,200 Stated Preference (conjoint analysis) interviews.

An update study was subsequently completed involving further surveys with a sample size of 6,000 airport related passengers to gauge passengers’ preferences now that the Airport Express is operational. This exercise included telephone interviews with over 200 airport employers, face-to-face interviews with 5,000 air travelers and approximately 200 Stated Preference face-to-face interviews with Airport Express travelers.

• Master plan for SkyCity

MVA led the preliminary transportation studies for the SkyPlaza Development and the International Exhibition Centre. These studies, which entailed full participation in the design process and close coordination with the Masterplan architect, have given MVA a full understanding of all of the key design issues. MVA also carried out a traffic impact assessment for the wider SkyCity Development encompassing the entire Northern Commercial District, which covered connections to the external road network, the internal road network, parking and servicing provision and pedestrian connections.

• SkyPlaza Design and Construction Stage Services

MVA provided transport advice for the first phase implementation of SkyPlaza, and carried out initial traffic scheme design for the full SkyPlaza Development. The project included the design of new transportation facilities and the modification of existing facilities to meet projected ultimate airport patronage requirements. The project also encompassed the provision of high quality transport facilities to serve the office and retail development components of SkyPlaza, including the design of new passenger circulation, processing and waiting facilities to serve the new terminal.

• Traffic Consultancy Services for SkyCity

MVA provided the full range of traffic and transport consultancy services for the ongoing development of SkyCity. Specific tasks include the development of new or modified traffic models, traffic and patronage analyses for various components of SkyCity and transport design for the future development (including internal road layout, parking and servicing facilities and pedestrian network facilities).

• International Exhibition Centre at HKIA – Traffic and Transport Consultancy

MVA was tasked with the development of appropriate vehicular and pedestrian access arrangements for Phase I of the new International Exhibition Centre at the Hong Kong International Airport.

• Elevated People Mover System Feasibility Study (Phase 1)

MVA undertook a patronage study for this planned Phase 1 EPM System serving the future Terminal 2, SkyPlaza Development, Business Park and Cross Boundary Ferry Terminal (CBFT). The study produced patronage estimates for both a “Bonded Line” serving air-side passengers and a “Non Bonded Line” servicing land-side passengers.

• Airport Authority: Traffic Advice for Future Logistics Centers at Hong Kong International Airport

MVA acted as transportation team leader for this study, which examined the traffic requirement with respect to a planned significant expansion of the existing logistics facilities at the Airport. The study incorporated a preliminary traffic capacity assessment as well as proposals for preliminary traffic and ingress/egress arrangements.

• Strategic Overview of Major Airport Development (SOMAD), Hong Kong

MVA’s role in this study was to carry out a review of transportation requirements to meet projected airport demand up to the year 2040. Specific tasks included studies to define the location and capacity of Terminal 2, a Midfield Area Study and investigation of reclamation expansion options. The study also examined and forecast the potential for increased volumes of air cargo throughout at HKIA.

• Hong Kong International Airport Master Layout Plan, Hong Kong

MVA worked as the ground transport and traffic consultant on the Master Layout Plan (MLP) of the Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok. MVA was responsible for (a) forecasting the number of different vehicles and passengers accessing the new airport by different modes of transport; (b) estimating the parking, pick-up/drop-off and special requirement for different types of vehicles; (c) designing the access road, car park, pick-up/drop-off, public transport interchange areas for the ground level access.

• Transport Study for New Airport (TRANSNA Study)

MVA was commissioned by the Hong Kong Government to assist in the development of an integrated strategy for the provision of public transport services to the new airport at Chek Lap Kok and Lantau for the period to 2006, having regard to passenger demand, financial viability, public acceptability and fare levels.

• Hong Kong International Airport – Airport Railway, Hong Kong

MVA played a “start to finish” role in the Airport Railway for the new Hong Kong International Airport. MVA was the lead transport consultant for the Feasibility Study and Preliminary Design Study, was responsible for the patronage and revenue forecasts for the financing; provided the design figures; developed the operating strategy, station locations and selection; defined Airport Express/Domestic Station choices and requirements and the phasing of trackwork and station designs. MVA then continued as station functional designers defining interchange layouts, vertical/horizontal movement and facility requirements; passenger handling facilities; bus, taxi, coach, car park, curbside etc facilities – sizing and operations. MVA also took a leading role in the integrated development over the airport railway stations which demanded extensive area-wide traffic designs and today continues on behalf of the railway operator and developers extending transport access facilities as demands grow and airspace development progresses.

• Hong Kong International Airport Ground Access Model

The Ground Access Model developed for Hong Kong International Airport and Airport Railway was enhanced further for the financing and design studies for the Airport Railway using a mix of stated preference and revealed preference data (from the existing airport). This involved very extensive data collection exercises using Revealed and Stated preference approach.