ABSTRACT

Looks at the world airline industry, from 1978 to 1998, from a strategy perspective. Traces the strategic developments and the strategy responses of the key airline players that have had a profound impact on the shape and direction of the industry. These include the deregulation of the industry, the nature and extent of competition, the emergence of brand/differentiation based competition, and airline alliance developments, strategies and their implications. Also provides a glimpse of what the future will hold for the world airline industry, including the prospects of increased global market concentration and the emergence of mega consortia, comprising lead airlines from key regions of the world, on the global stage. These global consortia, which will marginalise other players, will also compete against each other on the basis of branding/differentiation.