The Impact of Communication Transparency on Passengers’ Trust in Airports: The Mediating Role of Business Ethics

This study examines the impact of communication transparency on passengers’ trust in Yemeni airports and business ethics’ role. Communication transparency comprises disclosure, clarity, and accuracy; business ethics comprises honesty and responsibility. An explanatory cross-sectional survey collected data February 11–August 10, 2025. Of 202 returned questionnaires, 200 were analyzed. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), using a robust estimator for ordinal indicators, assessed the measurement model. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), with bootstrapped 95% confidence intervals (CIs), tested direct and indirect effects. Communication transparency was positively and significantly related to passengers’ trust and business ethics. Business ethics positively influenced trust. The indirect effect of transparency on trust through business ethics was statistically significant, indicating complementary partial mediation. Disclosure, clarity, and accuracy positively affected business ethics. Clarity had a minimal direct effect on passengers’ trust; disclosure and accuracy had no direct effects. However, three dimensions had indirect effects, with accuracy showing the strongest. Transparent airport communication builds trust by reducing uncertainty and expressing honesty and responsibility. The study contributes to communication transparency, business ethics, and airport management literature by identifying ethical credibility as a pivotal link between transparency and trust in Yemen’s fragile institutional environment. Findings should be interpreted within Yemeni airports.