Competitiveness of the tourist air passenger market in Europe

Abstract

This study analyzes the competitiveness of tourist destinations in European countries in the context of post-crisis recovery of passenger air transport and the increasing reorientation of Ukrainian airlines toward EU markets. The research addresses uneven recovery patterns, regulatory and safety constraints, and the limited integration of aviation factors into existing tourism competitiveness frameworks. Based on a dataset of 29 countries and 11 indicators, the study applies descriptive statistics, correlation and multicollinearity analysis, principal component analysis, and cluster analysis. The results reveal three key dimensions of competitiveness and four distinct country clusters, highlighting significant asymmetries in air passenger flow recovery. The findings provide a basis for benchmarking Ukraine’s position and developing targeted strategies for restoring and enhancing passenger air transport to strengthen national tourism competitiveness.