New strategies in Italian Airports

The following chapter deals with the impact of new international airport strategies on the business models adopted by Italian air management companies. It presents a qualitative study of the Italian airport system and its evolution over the past few decades. As this is a topical study, one of its aims is to understand why this system continues to expand, despite the economic crisis. After a brief review of the literature on this topic and sectors of air transport, the study scrutinizes Italy’s airport infrastructure and air management companies. This theoretical background aims to explain the structure of airports and the way they are managed. In addition, the chapter discusses the process of deregulation in the USA, Europe and Italy. In particular, we will concentrate on its effect in Italy, viz., the rise of lowcost airlines. The study’s most important aim is to monitor the effects of deregulation on airport business models and the associated strategies in Italy. Investigating the impact of these new laws and provisions on air management companies can help in gaining a better understanding of globalization’s role and influence on business strategies. Accordingly, the study attempts to answer the following research questions: i) How extensively has the air transport sector changed over the past few decades? ii) How have these changes influenced the Italian setting? And iii) What effects has globalization had on air transport companies, in terms of developing new strategies and business models? The research presents some limitations: first of all, it should be emphasized that this is the first phase of a far deeper analysis that can also involve quantitative data. For example, this qualitative study can be combined with a financial analysis of the overall performance of fullservice and low-cost airlines to quantify the value created by both groups. In addition, what is happening in different countries can be compared in order to analyze the impact of deregulation and its effects.