ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the concept of entrepreneurial management through a case study of the low-cost airline EasyJet. It summarizes the development of entrepreneurial management in the academic literature and then narrates the formation and growth of EasyJet in the context of the major changes caused by the entry of low-cost operators in the strategic environment of the European short-haul airline industry. The chapter provides a critical analysis of how EasyJet's strategy as well as of the projected strategy for future growth. It assesses EasyJet as a case of entrepreneurial management, offering conclusions for management practice and entrepreneurial theory. A key to entrepreneurial management is in recognizing the potential market opportunity and acting to exploit this by creating a better business model in advance of competitors, without regard to the resources controlled. The EasyJet model is simple: it achieves maximum aircraft utilization at maximum load factor on point-to-point flights, minimizing overhead costs.
