A Research on the Optimization of Xinjiang Air Route Network from the Perspective of Spatial Interaction Intensity

Abstract

The scholarly examination of spatial interactions between Xinjiang and world-class airport clusters, based on aviation transportation, is essential for harnessing the region's role as a pivotal contributor to high-quality economic development and fostering regional coordinated development, thereby optimizing Xinjiang's air route network. This study employs an enhanced gravity model, utilizing flight frequencies, to quantitatively evaluate the spatial interactions between Xinjiang's airport regions and cities within China's world-class airport clusters from 2015 to 2019, thus facilitating the scientific design of their air route networks. The findings reveal several key points: (1)The overall strength of spatial interactions between Xinjiang and the cities hosting four world-class airport clusters demonstrates a trend of "steady longitudinal increase with lateral polarization."(2)Urumqi's spatial interaction strength with international aviation hub cities and regional aviation hub cities in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Chengdu-Chongqing, Yangtze River Delta, and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area displays a "hierarchical differentiation pattern". (3)The total strength of spatial interactions between Xinjiang's branch airports and the four major world-class airport clusters demonstrates a "weak overall longitudinal growth with lateral polarization" trend. A comprehensive analysis of the spatial interaction between Xinjiang and world-class airport hub cities suggests that Xinjiang should fully leverage the aviation transport industry to strengthen economic ties with the four major world-class airport hub cities. It is recommended to deepen aviation transport connections with the Yangtze River Delta Airport Cluster and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Airport Cluster, and to sustainably consolidate aviation market cooperation with the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Airport Cluster and the Chengdu-Chongqing Airport Cluster.