Airport non-aeronautical revenues independent of passenger traffic as a way to build resilience to declines in passengers numbers

Purpose:The paper aims to identify types of airport non-aeronautical activities and assess their dependency on passenger traffic.The main objective is to explore how airports can develop revenue streams that are resilient to crises affecting passenger numbers.Design/methodology/approach: The study uses a qualitative-analytical approach, combining literature review, authorial analysis of secondary sources, and empirical research through openended expert questionnaires.It systematically classifies 44 business activities across 14 sections of the Polish Classification of Activities (PKD), assessing their dependency levels on passenger traffic (none, partial, indirect, or direct).Findings: Fifteen activities were identified as fully independent of passenger traffic, mainly related to airport surroundings (airport city), administrative, advisory, and e-commerce services.This reveals substantial potential for diversifying revenue sources.The study introduces refined dependency categories and highlights the need for broader airport business models beyond core operations.Research limitations/implications: Findings are based on expert opinions and literature, so generally speaking may be limited.Some identified activities are still potential, not yet implemented.The assessment of dependency on passenger traffic was qualitative in nature and may vary depending on local conditions.Future research should assess the efficiency and profitability of these independent revenue sources. Practical implications:The study offers strategic insights for airport managers and regulators.It supports the development of resilient business models and recommends investing in airport city infrastructure, advisory services, and cargo-linked operations to ensure income stability during crises.Social implications: By promoting sustainable and diversified airport operations, the research supports economic resilience and thus the preservation of jobs in times of crisis and aligns with environmental goals, such as green energy production and waste disposal.Originality/value: This is the first holistic study that maps airport activities by dependency on passenger traffic.It provides a novel classification and practical framework for building crisisresistant airport business models.