Analyzing the Factors Affecting the Modelling of Bandaranaike International Airport as a Passenger Hub in the South Asian Region

The aviation industry is one of the key facilitators of the Sri Lankan economy, yet Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) underperforms compared to other South and Southeast Asian aviation hubs. This paper identifies the factors that influence the development of BIA as a passenger hub in the South Asian region and the degree to which they affect passenger perceptions. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted with 323 passengers who arrived at BIA, selected using simple random sampling from the average monthly arrivals in 2019 (approximately 410,871). The questionnaire included demographic questions, 15 five-point Likert-scale variables related to services and infrastructure based on the literature, and dependent-variable questions relating to perceptions of BIA's hub potential. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 26.0 through descriptive statistics, reliability testing, exploratory factor analysis, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression. Additional qualitative data were collected through interviews with three aviation industry professionals. Instrument reliability and data factorability were confirmed by Cronbach's alpha (0.965), the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin test (0.947), and Bartlett's test (p < 0.001). Factor analysis reduced the 15 variables to four components: Facilities and Services, Entertainment and Sustainability, Terminal Configuration, and Sanitary and Quarantine. The regression model (Adjusted R² = 0.283; F = 32.814; p = 0.001) indicated that the strongest predictor (B = 0.366; p = 0.001) is Entertainment and Sustainability. The results demonstrate that differentiated entertainment services, sustainability programs, and experience-oriented airport facilities are critical to establishing BIA as a competitive regional passenger hub.