The role of infrastructure for economic development in an airport metropolis' region

Using location and creative class theories, this thesis examines business location decisions in the context of new business models for airports. Preferences for different types of infrastructure and their spatial dimensions were analysed by embedding a quantitative data collection in the framework of qualitative interviews conducted in Germany and the UAE. Results contributed to extending knowledge of the Airport City and Aerotropolis model, finding that the built and business environment is an important location factor for industry, and demonstrated that region and culture influence the role of different infrastructure elements for companies’ decision of location.