The overriding theme of this thesis concerns the level of antitrust enforcement within the U.S. airline industry by the agencies entrusted with this task. / After a brief Introduction, Chapter I will examine whether concentration within the U.S. airline industry is a natural phenomenon or an ordinary monopoly/oligopoly resulting from the behaviour of competitors. In concluding that a natural monopoly/oligopoly does not exist, Chapter II will analyse the policy being antitrust enforcement in the industry. / Chapter III will then use the implementation of S 408 of the Federal Aviation Act (FAA) by the Department of Transportation (DOT) as an example of such a policy. Finally, the remaining chapters are dedicated to an analysis of the CRS industry. By using this industry as an example, the writer will suggest that, by removing barriers to entry through aggressive use of S 411 of the FAA, the future may see new entrants enter the market. Emphasis will be placed on the attitude of the DOT in this regard.

Low-cost carriers and escalading fuel costs are placing increased pressure on US legacy carriers to reposition traditional revenue management techniques towards more customer-centric approaches. In this context, recent critiques of revenue management models question the validity of assumptions used to describe passenger cancellation and no-show behavior. Since forecasts of cancellation and no-shows are used to determine overbooking levels, i.e, authorization levels in excess of capacity, concerns related to possible missed revenue opportunities are justifiable. The goal of this research is to explore the impact of time-to-event forecasts of cancellations on airlines' revenue streams. To determine the intensity of the cancellation process, a discrete time proportional odds (DTPO) model with a prospective time scale was estimated for a sample of tickets provided by the Airline Reporting Corporation. Empirical results based on 2004 data from eight domestic US markets indicate that the intensity of the cancellation process is strongly influenced both by the time from ticket purchase and the time before flight departure, as well as several other covariates, including departure day of week, market, and group size. In order to assess potential revenue benefits associated with the DTPO formulation, a modified simulation experiment of a "single-resource capacity control" was designed. Simulation results indicate that time-to-event cancellation forecasts can generate revenue gains up to 2%. Overall, this research provides new insights into the transitional properties associated with the cancellation process, which will help airlines to improve their overbooking strategies.

"Back injuries have consistently been the most common types of injuries suffered by people at work. They have been a significant worker injury problem in most, if not all, industrialised countries for many years and manual handling has long been established as a significant task related back injury causal factor.[...] This research project established that the manufacturers of the jet airlines used by the airlines in this study had not previously been acquainted with the issue of baggage handler back injuries.[...] This study also canvassed the opinion of airline safety professionals and airline baggage handlers concerning baggage handling tasks and working environment related causal factors. [...] A major focus of this research project was also to measure the effect of ACE and Sliding Carpet, two commercially available retro-fit baggage systems, on the risk of back injuries to baggage handlers stacking baggage within Boeing B737 narrow-body aircraft." / Doctor of Philosophy

"Back injuries have consistently been the most common types of injuries suffered by people at work. They have been a significant worker injury problem in most, if not all, industrialised countries for many years and manual handling has long been established as a significant task related back injury causal factor.[...] This research project established that the manufacturers of the jet airlines used by the airlines in this study had not previously been acquainted with the issue of baggage handler back injuries.[...] This study also canvassed the opinion of airline safety professionals and airline baggage handlers concerning baggage handling tasks and working environment related causal factors. [...] A major focus of this research project was also to measure the effect of ACE and Sliding Carpet, two commercially available retro-fit baggage systems, on the risk of back injuries to baggage handlers stacking baggage within Boeing B737 narrow-body aircraft." / Doctor of Philosophy

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2008. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on July 22, 2009) Includes bibliographical references.

The teambuilding event refers to the structured attempt to improve or develop the effectiveness of a group of people who work together. It is a method used to improve productivity by getting subordinates to work together. It helps to generate teamwork so it enhances lateral and vertical communication where participants develop a sense of interpersonal trust and support. Group dynamics refer to the cause-and-result relationship which exists in a group and the study of its development. This research aims to interpret the group dynamics of a structured teambuilding event. A sample of 40 cabin controllers of a South African airline was used, who were divided in four separate groups. The teambuilding event was requested by the airline and participants were aged between 21-60 years old. The results of this introductory case study indicated that group dynamics can successfully be interpreted in a teambuilding event. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial Psychology)

Submitted by Cláudia Bueno (claudiamoura18@gmail.com) on 2016-05-18T17:50:48Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Bruno Alencar Pereira - 2015.pdf: 1703557 bytes, checksum: 3b0bfddd96375277b93e50576cb6723c (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2016-05-19T13:28:17Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Bruno Alencar Pereira - 2015.pdf: 1703557 bytes, checksum: 3b0bfddd96375277b93e50576cb6723c (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-19T13:28:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Bruno Alencar Pereira - 2015.pdf: 1703557 bytes, checksum: 3b0bfddd96375277b93e50576cb6723c (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-12-07 / In the air transport sector, especially in the airlines, innovation in business models can contribute to the creation of value, competitive advantage and profitability with new possibilities of action in the sector. The proposed research aims to identify the business models adopted by Brazilian airlines and characterize how innovation happens to create value, competitive advantage and profitability by models applied to the sector with the identification and implementation of appropriate indicators not yet exploited to this understanding. The methodology consisted of empirical, exploratory and descriptive research by multi case study with three of the main Brazilian airlines, allowing an investigation to raise significant and holistic characteristics of innovation indicators applied to the business models adopted in the sector. The results show the search paradigm breaks related to the dichotomy of the traditionals models low-cost and full-service toward hybrid business models and perceived the need for a business model that maintains a balance between the services offered, however, no major innovations identified by the supplied value proposition. The conclusion is that in the Brazilian airlines the innovation in business models occur linearly as examples highlighted by the companies, that the perception of them, internal changes in business models are considered major organizational innovations, however, there is no evidence results in large external innovations to the market provided by the business models adopted in a comparative panorama of such airlines. / No setor do transporte aéreo, especialmente nas companhias aéreas, a inovação nos modelos de negócios pode contribuir para a criação de valor, vantagem competitiva e lucratividade com novas possibilidades de atuação no setor. A pesquisa proposta teve por objetivo identificar os modelos de negócios adotados pelas companhias aéreas brasileiras e caracterizar como a inovação ocorre para a criação de valor, vantagem competitiva e lucratividade nos modelos aplicados ao setor, com a identificação e aplicação de indicadores ainda não explorados adequados à essa compreensão. A metodologia utilizada consistiu em pesquisa empírica, exploratória e descritiva realizada por estudo multicaso com três das principais companhias aéreas brasileiras, permitindo uma investigação para levantar as características significantes e holísticas dos indicadores de inovação aplicados aos modelos de negócios adotados no transporte aéreo. Os resultados demonstram a busca por rupturas do paradigma relacionado à dicotomia dos modelos tradicionais low-cost e full-service em direção à modelos de negócios híbridos, sendo perceptível a necessidade de um modelo de negócio que mantenha um equilíbrio entre os serviços oferecidos, porém, sem grandes inovações identificadas pela proposição de valor ofertada. Conclui-se que, nas companhias brasileiras a inovação nos modelos de negócios ocorre de forma linear conforme exemplos destacados pelas companhias que, pela percepção das próprias empresas, as mudanças internas nos modelos de negócios são consideradas grandes inovações organizacionais, porém, não se evidencia nos resultados grandes inovações externas para o mercado proporcionada pelos modelos de negócios adotados em um panorama comparativo entre tais companhias.

What makes globalization more challenging is the fact that, even when connected, the differences still exist between people, which seems not to be left alternative but to investigate their national cutltures to draw its essence and make this a tool for international operations. In this globalizations context, there is the air transport sector, which has received notable attention due to its increasing contribution to economic and social development of a country. Concomitant with the concern about global warming, the aviations industry is under the target of public pressure due to its staus as a major consumer of fossil fuels and their harmful consequences to the environment. Few researchs, however, are devoted to analyze how the airlines are positioned facing the issues of social responsibility, as well as the behavior of their consumers. Given this context, this study seeks to examine if there are differences in image perception, attitude and purchase intent of Brazilians and Spanish airlines consumers. Thus, based on the Vila and Gimeno-Rodriguez (2010) model, this study sought to adapt it to the airline industry and validate it. It also sought to identify the relationships of Corporate Social Responsibility (antecedent construct) with the images perception, attitude and purchase intention (consequential constructs) from Spanish and Brazilians air transport consumers. In addition, we sought to investigate whether the culture/nationality influences this relationship. Thus, it was conducted a survey research with 267 Brazilians and Spanish consumers through a questionnaire composed by four scales to measure: CRS of air transport companies, airlines image perceived by consumers, consumer s attitudes and their intention to use the air transport services. To validate Vila e Gimeno- Rodriguez model to the airline industry, it was used the Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The model showed satisfactory rates of adjustment, allowing its reapplication. To assess the relationships between the antecedent and the consequential constructs, this study was held on Structural Equation Modeling, through which were confirmed four research hypotheses: the CSR is an antecedent construct to the image perception, and image is an antecedent construct of attitude and purchase intention. Attiude shown preceding the purchase intention. To check the influence of nationality on these relationships, it was used the Invariance Test. Finally, it was found that nationality influences the relationships between: CSR practices by airlines and the perceived image by consumers; the image perceived by consumers and their approach to buy/use the airlines services; the image perceived by consumers their intention to buy/use the airline services and, the attitudes and their intentions to purchase/use the airlines services. / O que torna a globalização mais desafiadora é o fato de mesmo estando conectados, as diferenças entre os povos seguem existindo, o que parece não restar alternativa que não a de investigar as culturas nacionais para delas extrair sua essência e fazer desta uma ferramenta para as operações internacionais. Neste contexto de globalização, destaca-se o setor de transportes aéreos, o qual vem recebendo notável atenção devido a sua crescente contribuição para o desenvolvimento econômico e social de um país. Concomitante à preocupação com o aquecimento global, a indústria de aviação está sob alvo de pressão pública decorrente de seu status de grande consumidor de combustíveis fósseis e seus reflexos danosos ao meio ambiente. Poucas pesquisas, no entanto, se dedicam a analisar como as companhias aéreas se posicionam frente às questões de responsabilidade social, bem como, ao comportamento de seus consumidores. Diante deste cenário, o presente estudo procura analisar se há diferenças na percepção da imagem, atitude e intenção de compra de consumidores brasileiros e espanhóis frente a ações de responsabilidade social de companhias aéreas. Para tanto, com base no modelo de Vila e Gimeno-Rodriguez (2010), este trabalho procurou adaptá-lo para o setor de transporte aéreo e validá-lo. Buscou-se também, identificar as relações da Responsabilidade Social Corporativa (constructo antecedente) com a percepção da imagem, atitude e intenção de compra (constructos consequentes) de consumidores espanhóis e brasileiros dos serviços de transporte aéreo. Além disso, procurou-se verificar se a cultura/nacionalidade influencia nesta relação. Para tanto, foi realizada uma pesquisa do tipo survey com 267 consumidores brasileiros e espanhóis através de um questionário composto por quatro escalas que mediram: a RSC das companhias de transporte aéreo; a imagem das companhias aéreas percebida pelos consumidores; a atitude dos consumidores frente às companhias e; a intenção de uso do transporte aéreo. Para validar o modelo de Vila e Gimeno-Rodriguez (2010), para o setor de transporte aéreo utilizaram-se as técnicas de Análise Fatorial Exploratória e Confirmatória. O modelo apresentou índices satisfatórios de ajuste, possibilitando a reaplicação do mesmo. Para verificar as relações entre o constructo antecedente e os constructos consequentes, realizou-se a Modelagem de Equações Estruturais, através da qual confirmaram-se quatro hipóteses de pesquisa: a RSC é antecedente apenas do constructo imagem e este é antecedente dos constructos atitude e intenção de compra. Já a atitude se mostra antecedente à intenção de compra dos serviços de transporte aéreo. Para verificar a influência da nacionalidade nestas relações, utilizou-se o Teste de Invariância. Finalmente, constatou-se que a nacionalidade influencia as relações entre: a RSC praticada pelas empresas de transporte aéreo e a imagem percebida pelos consumidores; a imagem percebida pelos consumidores e sua atitude de compra/uso; a imagem percebida pelos consumidores suas intenções de compra/uso dos serviços aéreos e; a atitude dos consumidores e suas intenções de compra/uso dos serviços de transporte aéreo.

桃園機場近三年來，航班延誤的次數居高不下。 本文通過回歸和資料探勘的研究方法，發現抵達航班更容易出現航班延誤的狀況，特別是從桃園機場附近起飛的航班。 另外，廉價航空公司因其高效率的商業模式而獲得更好的時間效能。 這項研究證實了網絡傳播時間效應，也就是延誤狀況經常在當天晚些時候發生，並且進一步表明，機場若要提高準時性能，則航空公司的營運方式需要做改變。 / Over the past three years, Taoyuan Airport has experienced a high number of flight delays. By using regression and data mining methods, this paper found that arrival flights are more prone to delays, particularly from airports close by. Low cost carriers are also found to have better on time performance due to their efficient business. This study confirms the network propagation time effect where delays are more prone to happen later in the day and furthermore shows that should airports improve on-time performance, it would need to affect the way airlines operate.

Globalisation and stiff competition have changed the landscape of doing business. Decrease in customer loyalty and increase in customer expectations have challenged businesses to come up with unique methods of enhancing their quality of service. The same is true for airlines industry too. As a result, many airlines have transformed their marketing strategies, especially with regard to service quality, in order to compete efficiently in the global market. The marketing literature has introduced models of service quality, e.g.: SERVQUAL and AIRQUAL to help organisations measure and enhance customer experiences. SERVQUAL has been extensively researched and applied in many industries. Similarly, AIRQUAL, a model for the airline industry, has been developed but applied only in Cyprus. Moreover, the AIRQUAL scale lacks validity, as its development process is incomplete. This research, therefore, adapted 30-items of AIRQUAL and assessed and validated this revised scale. The validated scale was then applied to the airline industry of Saudi Arabia. Further, a comprehensive model is proposed, where the impact of the validated scale of service quality is tested with its impact on customer satisfaction, attitudinal loyalty, word of mouth, repurchase intentions and complaining behaviour. The assessment and validation process is divided into two main stages: first, qualitative; where four focus group interviews were undertaken that generated 46 items for the adapted scale. These items describe the perceptions of airline customers regarding service quality and were classified on the bases of the scheme proposed by Parasuraman et al. (1988). Second, a three-phase two sample, quantitative, research was performed to derive a validated 30-item scale comprising five dimensions: tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy. Further, the improved scale was tested in a new market (Saudi market) in order to assess the service quality of Saudi Airlines. A total of 500 self-administered questionnaires were distributed among airline customers. The returned questionnaires underwent thorough screening and cleaning. The reliability of the scale was tested through Cronbach’s Alpha, followed by exploratory factor analysis (EFA), which emerged with five dimensions. The content, convergent and discriminant validities were established. Further scale confirmation was conducted on a sample of US airline passengers. Finally, the proposed model with nine hypotheses was tested, which resulted in statistically significant results for all the proposed hypotheses.