Interessting question, indeed. I'd guess that, for the time being, the existing infrastructure is used. Right now, I doubt there are enough commercial flights to justify a dedicated infrastructure, though I am sure there at least some plans to built one one day.
I assume the economics of the business are pretty much influenced by the infrastructure used, but I'm not an expert on it. Maybe the existing infrastructure is sufficient. Does any body now if SpaceX needs its own launch pads or can they existing ones? Or even better some of the existing ones?
EDIT: They used launch sites in Cape Canerveral, Vandenberg and apparently have one on Kwajalein Atoll, according to their website.
The SpaceX wikipedia page indicates that they have so far used US Military and NASA launch sites. But they are also planning to build a launch complex in South Texas. Not sure if its for their exclusive use.
There is also Spaceport America [1] being built in New Mexico. Seems to be open to anyone.
From a commercial/competitive point of view, wouldn't an incumbent like SpaceX be better off building an exclusive launch site? Use it as a barrier to entry for competitors.
Do they need a barrier to entry, beyond the difficulty of launching things into space at all? They seem to be going for the honorable strategy of running faster than everybody else, rather than trying to cripple their competitors.
I'm not sure. My guess is that the lauch site is not biggest entry barrier, I think that's more the development and construction of the rockets and stuff. And the biggest customers in the western worlds like the NASA and the US military have there own sites, I guess they allow SpaceX competitors to use them too.
Again, I'm no expert on that, so please feel free to add some expertise!
I assume the economics of the business are pretty much influenced by the infrastructure used, but I'm not an expert on it. Maybe the existing infrastructure is sufficient. Does any body now if SpaceX needs its own launch pads or can they existing ones? Or even better some of the existing ones?
EDIT: They used launch sites in Cape Canerveral, Vandenberg and apparently have one on Kwajalein Atoll, according to their website.