Is China’s airline network similar to its long-distance mobility network? A comparative analysis

This chapter examines the similarities and differences between the airline network and the long-distance mobility network in China by comparing the topological structures of the two networks, the centrality of cities (as defined by different methods), and the connectivities of city dyads. Although a quadratic assignment procedure test shows a structural similarity between the two networks, the airline network is found to manifest different characteristics in terms of small-world and scale-free patterns, the backbone of urban networks, and geographic configurations in the clustering analysis. The comparison of different centralities further suggests that cities with different characteristics have different performances in the two networks; large cities (by population), frontier or port cities, and cities at ground transportation junctions are well connected in the mobility network, while tourism cities and major aviation hubs are well connected in the airline network. Moreover, the comparative analysis of intercity connectivities reveals that intercity distance matters to the competition between airlines and other means of transport. By benchmarking the airline network with the actual intercity movements, this comparative analysis offers useful background information that can inform the optimisation of airline networks.