The environmental impacts of air travel have become more prominent. Governments and environmental groups have increasingly focussed on the effect that air transport has on the environment, and airlines have started to respond to the increasing awareness of their environmental impacts. The aim of this research is to develop an understanding of how leisure air travellers perceive the environmental marketing mix of airlines. Resource-Advantage Theory is used to analyse green marketing in the airline sector. This theory will be extended to the airline sector by establishing green market segments, analysing green brand images among air travellers and evaluating Market-Orientation Strategy. The data for this research stems from a large, quantitative survey conducted at Liverpool John Lennon Airport. Using attitudinal and behavioural variables, five leisure air travel segments are identified. Some market segments perceive certain marketing initiatives as more effective in addressing the environmental impact of air transport than others and are also more likely to take up certain initiatives. Segmenting the market enables airlines to use their green marketing mix in a more targeted way. Many passengers differentiate airlines based on their environmental image. Some airlines are perceived as more environmentally-friendly than others. Yet, the business model does not affect the environmental image, while having flown with an airline has a positive impact on green image in many cases. Green communication is key for airlines, as actual environmental efficiency does not affect the eco-positioning of the airline. Yet it is important that any environmental claims are substantiated, as environmental groups and government regulators might address these otherwise. Three case studies (Virgin Atlantic, easyJet and Flybe) discuss that while all three airlines have applied a green marketing mix, only two (Virgin Atlantic and easyJet) are able to benefit from this in their environmental image. The thesis addresses the importance and relevance of Resource-Advantage Theory in airline marketing research. This theory proves to be an appropriate and necessary underpinning for green airline marketing, an area that has received little attention in theory application. The theory can be used to explain why green marketing segments can be identified in airline leisure markets and why airlines should adopt a green marketing mix to enhance their green brand-equity. These aspects are supported by the data collected and analysed. The research shows that an understanding of passenger perceptions with regard to green marketing is highly relevant for airline marketing managers, in order for them to establish a successful green marketing mix.

Global sourcing strategies are becoming important with respect to more globalized world and changing global market. Nowadays, profitability is more complex subject for companies. Moreover, if we come through the airline companies, it will be more confused issue to achieve. Customers are getting knowledge about pricing strategies of different types of aviation industry and this makes customer segmentation more important.Coping with that challenging business requires strong skills on sourcing strategies in human resources, airport and aircraft choices. Hence one of the biggest airline companies was chosen as a case company to observe these strategies.Increasing of flights for all over the world causes more polluted environment. Hence, airline companies need to be more responsible for environmental issues. Sustainability in that business is motivated by customer and related policies. Chosen case company was also reviewed with respect to its corporate social responsibility.According to this thesis a lot of work can be done in order to a get a brief idea for the global sourcing strategies and corporate social responsibility. Authors were discussed that subject and observed its applications in a world-wide airline company. It can be supposed as a well-prepared study with literature review and related reflections.

This diploma thesis addresses the topic of frequent flyer programs for small and medium enterprises. The goal of this thesis is to analyze BlueBiz, the Air France-KLM frequent flyer program for small and medium enterprises, and to propose improvements for this program. The theoretical part consists of an introduction to marketing, commercial communications, and loyalty programs; the analytical part deals directly with the frequent flyer program BlueBiz. The analytical part introduces the airline companies Air France-KLM, and provides an analysis of BlueBiz terms and conditions, an analysis of the competitors' programs, analysis of program's communications and an analysis of BlueBiz awareness. The results of all analyses are summarized in a SWOT analysis, which creates groundwork for designing program's improvements.

The inefficient use and knowledge of direct, on-demand air taxi/air charter flights in the United States was the topic of this dissertation. The general problem studied was the inefficient use of air transportation options by business travelers in the United States. The specific problem was how business travelers in the United States learn of and thereby elect to embrace a newer air travel option. Using Rogers's diffusion of innovations theory as the framework, the dissemination of air travel choices made by business travelers using ImagineAir air taxi service in the United States was explored via a qualitative case study research design methodology. Thirty-five semistructured interviews and matching customer database information provided data for the study, Data were later analyzed for emergent themes and codes using MAXQDA software. Key research questions included communication of the innovation, business travelers' perceptions of the innovation, timeframe of innovation adoption, business environment enabling the innovation adoption, and the Rogers self-described adopter type. The results showed that compatibility, relative advantage, risk, and complexity influence the perception of business travelers about air taxi services. Based on the research, the course of action suggests that business travelers will most rapidly embrace air taxi service via internet dissemination of this new option. With continued success in dissemination, positive social change will come in the form of efficiencies as business travelers use more than 5,000 virtually idle airports and over 7,000 on-demand air taxi aircraft as highlighted by U.S. government studies further bolstered by this research.

Globally, the aviation industry supports 58.1 million jobs in related industries and U.S. airlines alone generated 11.8 million jobs. Airline performance, productivity, and profitability depend on employees. The purpose of this single case study was to explore the strategies that U.S. airline leaders use to improve employee performance. The study was grounded with the Harvard model of human resource management. A stratified purposeful sample of 14 managers and 10 frontline staff from a Florida airline participated in semistructured individual interviews and a focus group, respectively. The data from these interviews were analyzed using Moustakas's modified van Kaam method. The themes that emerged from analysis included: an emphasis on the individual interaction and verbal affirmations between managers and frontline staff, additional career development opportunities for employees, not only for performing in their role but improving performance and level of commitment to the organization. Furthermore, managers and employees arrived at the same conclusion about organization culture and commitment-individuals have to feel they are contributing to the overall mission and feel valued in doing so. For the latter to occur, leaders need to engage employees in continuous dialogue and be completely transparent, and employees need to be open to feedback and share their motivations and goals. Social change implications include improved management and labor relationships within the U.S. airline industry, which ultimately benefits the flying public through greater stability and better service.

Departure punctuality has increasingly gained attention over the last few years. This development is due to the realization what important role this issue plays in the economics of the airline industry. Punctuality is not just a sound performance indicator but also allows airlines to differentiate themselves from their competitors. In addition the issue holds a significant potential for cost savings. For this reason many airlines have started special programmes to improve their punctuality performance, and so did Lufthansa. However, despite this increasing attention, outbound punctuality levels have not yet reached satisfactory levels. Therefore, this study aimed at contributing to this process by identifying potential ontime performance improvements at the Lufthansa station at Frankfurt Airport. As an underlying framework, a Human Factors approach was chosen. Central issues in the focus of the study were the individual perceptions and attitudes towards punctuality by the relevant front line staff. In order to examine these issues a survey among the Flight Managers, Assistant Flight Managers, and Section leaders was carried out. The results of this survey were then put into correlation with the delay statistics published. The results of the survey indicate a potential lack of communication among the front line staff as well as between them and higher organizational entities. Moreover, certain distrust towards the delay statistics became evident. Although the staff members seem quite well motivated, they feel a lack of commitment by their superiors. In addition, the survey gathered some interesting ideas for punctuality improvements held by the front line staff members. Besides very concrete topics for discussion, the central outcome of the study was the recommendation to analyze all relevant processes at the Lufthansa station from a Human Factors perspective in order to improve the communicative situation. Moreover, the study suggests introducing appropriate incentive schemes in order to promote better on-time performance. Altogether these should result in a noticeable improvement of the punctuality situation at the Lufthansa station.

In airline scheduling a variety of planning and operational decision problems have to be solved. In this thesis we consider the problems aircraft routing and crew pairing: aircraft and crew must be allocated to flights of a schedule in a minimal cost way. Although these problems are not independent, they are usually formulated as independent mathematical optimisation models and solved sequentially. This approach might lead to a suboptimal allocation of aircraft and crew, since a solution of one of the problems may restrict the set of feasible solutions of the problem solved subsequently. Also, in minimal cost solutions, aircraft and crew are highly utilised and short turn around times are usually used for aircraft and crew. If such a solution is used in operations, a short delay of one flight can cause very severe disruptions of the schedule later in the day due to the lack of buffer times. We formulate an integrated aircraft routing and crew pairing model that can generate solutions that incur small costs and are also robust to typical stochastic variability in airline operations. We propose two new solution methods to solve the integrated model. The first approach is an optimisation based heuristic approach that is capable of generating good quality solutions quickly, the second approach can solve the integrated model to optimality. In an extension of the integrated model we allow the departure times of some flights in the schedule to vary in some time window. This creates additional flexibility that leads to aircraft routing and crew pairing solutions with improved cost and robustness compared to the integrated model without time windows. Using data from domestic Air New Zealand schedules, we evaluate the benefits of the approaches on real world problem instances. Our solutions satisfy all rules imposed for these problems and are ready to be implemented in practice. We generate solutions that dramatically improve the cost and robustness of solutions obtained by existing methods.

<p>Fundamental analysts use basic fundamentals, which generally based on available public information, to determine a firm’s intrinsic value. Forecasting future performance is one of the key elements for doing fundamental analysis, and historical results are the foundation for future forecast.</p><p>The analysis of this study is conducted into two sections with case studies in the airline business. Firstly, financial ratios are analyzed to examine whether low-cost or traditional airlines better perform their operations during a certain period. The other section is undertaking fundamental analysis of the case studies to evaluate current stock prices of representative airlines based on the potential future forecast. The model using for this valuation is the Residual Earnings Model. Key assumptions of future forecasts are mainly based on their historical ratios. Other related factor such as the gross domestic product (GDP) is included in forecasting sales growth rate because it is one of the key influences in the airline business.</p><p>For ratio analysis, the findings suggest that low-cost airlines perform better operations based on five years average. However, the traditional airlines improve their performances significantly in the latest fiscal year. For equity valuation, the findings show that estimates of equity values of the airlines yield inconsistent results comparing to their stock prices. Possible reasons of the difference might be the improvement in key financial ratios of the airlines.</p>

<p>The dynamics of business contexts influence the way firms act in their industry. These changes can have effects in several areas within a company. Entrepreneurship and Innovation are two areas that are affected when a change in firm’s environment occurs, like Schumpeter, Shane and Drucker point. Changes in the deregulatory framework are a specific type of change that can occur. According to Entrepreneurship theories, the removal of regulatory barriers creates opportunities to different reallocation of resources that can lead to changes in market equilibrium. This study addresses this relation between deregulation and entrepreneurship-innovation in the European airline industry. With the removal of regulatory barriers, companies like SAS and Ryanair, saw opportunities to do something new and at the same time had to adapt to these “doing something new” behavior of other companies. Entrepreneurship and innovation were the answer to theses changes and the weapon to fight answers to others with this change. Considering this, our statement problem is the following:</p><p>How did the deregulation of air transportation in Europe foster entrepreneurial behavior and innovation in the European airline industry over the last twenty years? The case of SAS and Ryanair.</p><p>Our goal is to describe the process of deregulation and how firms reacted to it and to give explanations behind the relation deregulation-entrepreneurship, identifying the direct and indirect influence of deregulation in the studied companies. Furthermore, based on this investigation, we will trace possible ways on how future deregulation in Europe can foster further entrepreneurial behavior and innovation.</p><p>This thesis was conducted with a positivism scientific ideal and a deductive approach. We used a qualitative method to collect empirical data that could match with the theories we had chosen beforehand. We conducted three interviews with people inside the industry – from airlines (SAS Braathens and SAS) and from airports (LFV). The first two were used as main sources to SAS case study and the third to have a perspective of airline industry. Since we could not get any interview with Ryanair, Ryanair story book was used as main source for this case study.</p><p>Our theoretical framework consists of four different broad areas that are interrelated to each other. These areas and the respective theories integrated in them are: institutions and regulation, changes in context and strategic position.</p><p>Our study shows that EU deregulation altered the five competitive forces in European airline industry and in turn this fostered entrepreneurship and innovation, as a reaction of firms to adapt to the change in their context. The reaction of Ryanair and SAS through entrepreneurial and innovative behaviour was different due to the differences in their business model. We argue that the removal of barriers to new entrants and the increased rivalry between firms were the main forces that fostered entrepreneurship and innovation. We predict that if further EU deregulation comes (as it is the trend) this will generate more opportunities to entrepreneurship and innovation like it generated in the past.</p>

<p><strong>Frågeställning: </strong>Hur skiljer sig lågprisflygbolagens strategier jämfört med de traditionella, vilken är den vinnande strategin?</p><p><strong>Huvudsyfte: </strong>Genom utvalda teorier<strong> </strong>och nyckeltal jämföra och se skillnader mellan flygbolagens strategier och hur det påverkar lönsamhet och utveckling<strong>.</strong></p><p><strong>Metoder: </strong>En jämförande studie baserad på sekundärdata på fem stora flygbolag för att hitta olikheter i strategier. Främst används bolagens årsredovisningar, vetenskapliga artiklar och relevanta teorier för insamlandet av data.</p><p><strong>Slutsatser: </strong>Biljettpriset inom flygindustrin blir en allt viktigare faktor att anpassa sig efter för överlevnad på marknaden. Lågprisflygen har genom kostnadsreduceringar genom enklare bokningssystem, mindre personalstyrka, avlägsna flygplatser och enhetlig flotta kunnat sätta lägre priser än de traditionella. Detta innebär att effektiviteten har ökat och detta sätter press på de traditionella flygbolagen att kostnadsreducera och utveckla servicen ytterligare för att ha en chans att klara konkurrensen. Marginalerna har blivit mindre vilket pressar ner lönsamheten inom industrin. Traditionella flygbolag behöver anpassa sig efter de nya kraven och omstruktureringar är nödvändigt.</p> / <p><strong>Problem formulation:  </strong>How does the low price airlines strategies differ from the traditional airlines strategy, which is the winning strategy?</p><p><strong>Main purpose: </strong>With chosen theories and key figures see the differences between airlines strategy and how it affects profitability and development.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A comparing study based on secondary data from five big airlines in order to find differences in strategy. Mostly the companies' annual reports, scientific articles and relevant theories are used for the collection of data.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>It is becoming more important to adjust the ticket price on air travelling to survive on the aviation-market. Low-price airlines have been able to lower the ticket price through cost reductions with easier booking systems, smaller workforce, less attractive airports and a uniform fleet. This productivity increase is forcing the traditional airlines to reduce their costs and improve their service to deal with the competition. The marginal's are getting smaller and profitability is getting lower. Traditional airlines have to adjust after the new demands and restructures are needed.</p>