BUSINESS ACTIVITY OF UKRAINIAN PASSENGER AIRLINES AND WAYS OF INCREASING THEIR INSTITUTIONAL COMPETITIVENESS

Abstract

The article evaluates the business activity of passenger airlines of Ukraine with the aim of increasing their institutional competitiveness based on the analysis of the dynamics and structure of the volume of passenger transportation by air transport during 2011-2021. An increase in the total volume of transportation by a quarter was established against the background of a reduction in domestic flights and an increase in international flights. It is shown that the result of multidirectional dynamics is significant structural shifts. It was revealed that, according to average annual data, the volume of passenger transportation by airlines on international flights exceeds domestic flights by more than 8 times. The volume of passenger transportation on domestic and international flights was formalized in two stages: the first (2011-2019) was characterized by a reduction in the volume of passenger transportation during its first half, the emergence of a reverse trend and growth until the end of the selected stage. The second stage (2020-2021) was marked by a sharp reduction in the volume of passenger transportation by air flights compared to the previous year and further growth. The outlined dynamics are formalized by constructed polynomial functions. It is shown that the business activity of domestic carriers changes cyclically, and the main reason for the selection of the second stage of the dynamics of the volume of passenger transportation is its sharp reduction in 2020 due to restrictions related to СОVID-19. The content of the gradual recovery of the passenger air transportation market in 2021 is characterized. A comparative assessment of the competitiveness of domestic and foreign airlines, as well as domestic airlines among themselves, operating on domestic and international airlines, by market share of passenger transportation, was conducted. According to the results of the assessment of the average annual specific weight of domestic airlines in passenger turnover of airports, their insufficient competitiveness, especially in the domestic market, has been proven. Statistically, it is shown that international passenger transportation is more attractive for domestic air carriers, however, the share of regular transportation is low, while the share of domestic flights is predominant. A characteristic feature of the passenger transportation market by domestic airlines in the form of high concentration was revealed. The factors of positive influence on the business activity of airlines and the ways of their activation are systematized.