National Competitive Advantage Perspective of Global Aviation Hubs: The Middle East Big Three

ABSTRACT

Airports are seen as a crucial component of infrastructure in the construction of modern cities in the Middle East, where aviation is recognized as a top priority in their development strategy. While the airline industry in the Middle has been investigated, there are no studies that explored the region’s successful global aviation hubs from a national competitive advantage perspective. Therefore, this paper examines the macro environmental elements affecting a nation’s competitiveness in the aviation industry using a mixed-methods approach, including Porter’s notion of national competitive advantage and expert views. The analysis shows that while macro environmental factors such as geographical advantage, physical and intellectual infrastructure, and business attractiveness are important for a successful aviation development, they are not necessarily required to guarantee a hub status unless the governments are devoted to developing the sector.

Keywords
Aviation hubs; Airports; Air transport