Consumers' evaluations of an international airport: a facet theoretical approach

Results are presented of a study of consumers' satisfaction with an international airport. A facet theory approach is adopted in research design and data analysis and the results are presented in relation to previous facet theory-guided research into design evaluation. Opportunity-sampled passengers (N = 115) arriving or departing air passengers returned completed and usable questionnaires. Analysis revealed the air passengers questioned were generally satisfied with the airport. Similarity structure analysis (SSA) provided support for the 'general mapping sentence for place experience' which was used to design the questionnaire. The mapping sentence has been developed in the literature through demonstrating a common structure to place evaluation which consists in facets of referent, focus and level. The referent facet composed elements of service, spatial and comfort; a focus facet with contained elements of primary and ancillary; and a level facet was independently present with elements of direct and indirect levels of contact. The paper concludes by developing a mapping sentence for airport design evaluation.