These conclusions are based on the results of a sociological research conducted at Rostov-on-Don Airport (belongs to Airports of Regions Holding Company) at the end of 2015. The poll was carried out in order to draw a socio-demographic portrait of the passengers, to study the route network, as well as to estimate the level of satisfaction with the airport services and to identify the unmet requirements. All in all, more than 1300 passengers between the ages of 18 to 65 participated in the survey.
The typical portrait of a passenger according to the poll is the following: on domestic flights – they are men and women aged 25-44 with higher education, married, with no minor children, holding the positions of managers, qualified specialists and civil servants; more than half of the respondents have average or above average income, the majority of them own a car. Most domestic passengers fly on average 4-5 times a year. More than a third of intra-Russian passengers (38%) travel for their job/on business trips, the second most frequent purpose (25%) - tourism/recreation, the third - visiting relatives/friends (22%). The vast majority of domestic passengers (63%) go on a journey alone and only 25% of the respondents - as a family.
The age profile of the international passengers is similar to the domestic travelers, but most passengers flying abroad (63%) are women. In addition, passengers depart on international flights less frequently, 2 times a year on average. However, about 3/4 of all flying abroad are holiday makers. About 2/3 of the passengers travel as a family and one third - alone.
Interesting conclusions were made regarding the means of transport, the passengers use to get to the airport. Although the airport is located in the area of high transport accessibility, only 14% of the passengers come by public transport. Most respondents get to the airport by car: 38% by taxi, another 36% are brought by their relatives, friends, colleagues, and 11% - by their own car.
All in all, the respondents note satisfaction with the quality of products and range of services at the airport. At the same time, the most popular service is coffee vending machines and the second is luggage wrapping. Among the services the passengers want to find at the airport, they often mentioned a cinema, children's play grounds, a baggage porter, photocopying services and iPad rental.
The most popular way of purchasing tickets for the flight is to buy a ticket on the Internet. 67% of the passengers used airlines’ Web sites and specialized search engines to purchase a ticket, ticket offices provided services to 21%.
In 2016 the survey will be repeated.