The success or failure of such enterprise depends on determinants, which should be examined as an impact of various external and internal factors. The multiplicity of these elements, as well as diverse strength of their impact, cause the study of determinants of the development of regional airport and their effect on its competitiveness – possible success or failure – to be a very complex process.

In the first section of this chapter, we will present the external determinants affecting the activity of Polish airports. The (external) environment of an airport is an outside source of its competitiveness and a source of both possibilities (opportunities) and threats (restrictions) to the growth of the port. The basis for the development strategy, that is strategic port competitiveness, is to identify the most important factors in the different layers of the environment i.e. macro-, meso- and micro-environment. The operation and competition of the airport is shaped by strong interactions, which occur between various elements of the environment (macro-, meso- and micro-).

At the micro-environment level, the regional airport is impacted by factors related to the fact that the facility operates in specific global conditions, although it exists in a particular region and country. It is also significantly influenced by the general socio-demographic situation. Among the most significant determinants at meso-environment level are factors related to the issue of attractiveness of cities and regions (the strength of the region and its economic and social potential, etc.). Micro-level is defined as the so-called direct (competitive) environment of the regional airport, therefore it includes sets of factors relating to the relevant geographic market, the airport's location or its place in the intermodal freight transport system. It is particularly important to look at the range of impact (catchment area) of Polish regional airports against adjacent major ports, especially in Germany.

The ability to meet challenges resulting from all spheres of the external environment essentially influences the development of the competitive position of the regional airport. What matters is whether its attitude will be passive or active, whether the opportunities will be seized and crisis situations will be eliminated. Airport Management Board's skills to take firm actions are also highly significant. Therefore, in the second section of the chapter, the internal determinants of regional airport competitiveness will be discussed.