Understanding ground access dynamics at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati: a case study analysis

Airports play a crucial role in transportation, commerce, and tourism. They allow for efficient travel by air, connecting people and businesses to domestic and international destinations. Therefore, ground access to airports is a crucial aspect of the overall airport experience of passengers, and analysis of mode choice decisions by air passengers is a crucial part of managing and planning airport systems. Ground access to airports using ridesourcing services has recently gained popularity as a convenient and cost-effective alternative to traditional taxi and shuttle services. While private car uses for accessing airports have been studied systematically, further examination of the use of emerging ridesourcing services is needed. This study explores various options for ground access to Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport, Guwahati, India. The study also aims to identify the characteristics of available ground access modes and users, concentrating on the use of ridesourcing services and traditional taxi services. A binary logit model was created between ridesourcing and traditional taxi services to examine the choice of access mode. The results indicate that several factors, including residence status, age, luggage, convenience, availability, and prior information about the trip, were significant at 95% confidence level. Specifically, 30.5% of respondents used ridesourcing services to access the LGBI airport, while private vehicles and traditional taxi services accounted for 31.1% and 21% of mode share, respectively. The findings offer valuable information for improving transportation planning for accessing LGBI airport.