Vol. 55 No. 5 (2025)
ECONOMY SECTORS AND MARKETS

Privatization and Horizontal Integration: Impact on Efficiency of Russian Airports

A.N. Zubenko
Lomonosov Moscow State University

Published 2025-10-06

Keywords

  • airports; aviation infrastructure; efficiency; airport privatization; data envelopment analysis; horizontal integration; airport holdings

How to Cite

1.
Zubenko А. Privatization and Horizontal Integration: Impact on Efficiency of Russian Airports. ECO [Internet]. 2025 Oct. 6 [cited 2025 Oct. 9];55(5):222-38. Available from: https://ecotrends.ru/index.php/eco/article/view/4907

Abstract

The paper examines the impact of horizontal integration, that often happens during airport privatization, on airport efficiency. The author outlines the legal peculiarities of airport privatization in Russia, which helps put forward an expanded understanding of privatization. A first assessment of efficiency in 28 Russian airports employing the data envelopment analysis method based on 2019 reports (before the pandemic and sanctions restrictions) is presented. The paper analyzes factors affecting efficiency and the risks of limiting competition in the case of airport governance rights concentration. Contrary to studies of foreign airports, it is proved that being part of an airport holding and potential airport competition between airports in the Russian Federation do not significantly affect their efficiency.

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