Research on the Optimization of Air Route Network in Henan Province from the Perspective of Spatial Interaction Intensity-Taking the Four World-class Airport Clusters as Examples

Abstract

Scientific assessment of the spatial interaction intensity between Henan Province and the four world-class airport clusters based on air transportation is an important basis for leveraging the region's radiation function as a 'power source' of high-quality economic development. This aims to promote regional coordinated development and optimize the air route network in Henan province. Based on the improved gravity model of flight frequency, this paper quantitatively measures the spatial interaction strength between the four airport cities in Henan Province and cities in China's four world-class airport clusters from 2015 to 2019, upon which the air route network connection is optimized. The findings reveal that the spatial interaction intensity between the airport cities in Henan province and the four world-class airport clusters exhibits a trend of "vertical steady improvement and horizontal polarization" overall, while the spatial interaction intensity between the four airport cities and cities in the four airport clusters demonstrates a "gradient pattern of differentiation." In the future, Henan should fully leverage the air transportation industry to strengthen economic ties with the four world-class airport cluster cities, taking full advantages of the radiating and driving effects of "power sources" such as the Yangtze River Delta, Zhengzhou, Luoyang, Nanyang, and Xinyang should strengthen differentiated connections with the four major world-class airport clusters through aviation transportation networks. In addition, Henan province should promote centralized and unified management of airports within the province to achieve coordinated "trunk and branch" development.