Polarization and hierarchies in air passenger transport in Europe

Abstract

This paper is aimed at examining the polarization and hierarchies arising in Europe in terms of air transport passengers' flows and the possible levels of interaction and integration between nodes. In the paper we use Eurostat database of air passengers' flows between the 27 EU countries as well as between city pairs. In this paper graph theory and network analysis are used, as well as a use of GIS instruments and methods to transform flows into linear elements to be represented on maps. Some global European trends as well as local dominances will appear. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.