Skywest

The Airline industry is a large and constantly growing industry. It facilitates economic growth, international investment and world trade and is therefore central to other industries as well for globalisation. There are various forces which lead to globalisation in airline industry. Key drivers of change are forces likely to affect the structure of an industry; sector or market. (1).

The combined United Continental Holdings competes on the basis of having what it terms "the most comprehensive global route network", modern planes, and "an industry-leading loyalty program" (UnitedContinentalHoldings.com, 2012). The merger between two struggling airlines was announced in 2010, and the United brand is going to be the one that is most prominent going forward. There have recently been some minor implementation problems in unwinding the Continental name (Martin, 2012).

In today’s business industry, the globalization process has become an important aspect and fundamental force. The elements that contribute to globalization is the environment, culture, regulation and technology and production. While the advancements globalization has increased greatly, so has the advancements in airline industry with their aircraft (Shevell, 1999). Globalization also provides a great amount of potential profits to nations and their corporations (Button, 2008). Air transportation has evolved into a major industry (Kroo, 1999). The airline industry’s continuously grows and is facilitated through its international investment, tourism, world trade and economic growth (Kroo, 1999).

Globalization in the airline industry may seem to be a natural flow of the business model. However, some companies have a better fit, or culture that lends itself to a smooth and prosperous integration into the global market. In comparing this integration into the global market one might take a historical look at American and Northwest. Both carriers were formed just after World War I, as mail carriers (3,4). Eventually both evolved into passenger carriers. Americans roots are traced to Charles Lindberg and the cities of Chicago and St Louis (4). Northwest also has its roots in Chicago, but their first routes went north to Minneapolis / St Paul (3). Northwest eventually evolved into Northwest-Orient Airlines and expanded its routes into Japan, being the first airline to make a profit in the Asian market without subsides (3). Northwest continued to globalize with their alliance with KLM Airlines and eventual expansion into the Netherlands (3). American, on the other hand, concentrated their growth in the Americas. With an extensive route system into Central and South America (4), American Airlines seems to have centered its expansion in the United States. A possible result of American’s expansion, or lack of expansion outside the U.S., might have reduced the artifacts that could have otherwise further enhanced their global culture mix and thus created a better

Globalization can be defined as "making worldwide in scope or application"(1). In this comparison of the global corporate culture of Northwest Airlines and American Airlines several areas will be addressed. The strength of the global culture with-in the companies. The fit of the company to the global marketplace, and the adaptive ness or the

I would characterize the U.S. airline industry in the early 1990’s as a steak being trimmed of all its fat, the economic climate created a financial calamity of bankruptcies and collapse by major airlines, which in turn created opportunity for smaller more efficient carriers with cost advantages to enter a near oligopoly industry. The economic distress the airlines industry encountered was spawned from recession and a doubling of fuel prices during the Gulf War in 1991. Fuel, the second largest cost to the industry, an uncontrollable cost that raised havoc on this industry,

7. The company’s future is promising. Revenues are increasing and its load factor is improving. Operating expenses are decreasing and compared to other regional airlines, SkyWest offers better benefits and compensation packages. It is performing efficiently; more so as each year passes.

American airline industry is steadily growing at an extremely strong rate. This growth comes with a number economic and social advantage. This contributes a great deal to the international inventory. The US airline industry is a major economic aspect in both the outcome on other related industries like tourism and manufacturing of aircraft and its own terms of operation. The airline industry is receiving massive media attention unlike other industries through participating and making of government policies. As Hoffman and Bateson (2011) show the major competitors include Southwest Airlines, Delta Airline, and United Airline.

Economic, social-cultural, and technological forces are the external macro-environmental factors Southwest Airlines should be most concerned with. Weak economic growth reduces the purchasing power of an airline’s target market. Southwest, known for being a leader in low cost airline, provides flights at a higher frequency and capacity to attain profit. However, the company experienced increasing overhead through the lapse of long-standing fuel contracts, which previously helped provide a competitive advantage. This factor is also amplified by the growth the company experienced with success. Southwest is the fourth largest airline and has seen fuel cost skyrocket from 29 percent to 35 percent over a seven-year period.

Financial data from the past three years shows that American Airlines Group, Inc., is financially stronger compared to Southwest Airlines Co., one of its top competitors. Both companies have had similar trends in revenue, stock price, and net income over the past three years. This is why Southwest Airlines was chose for this comparative financial analysis. Although the financial data of both companies show similar trends, American Airlines shows its financial superiority when it comes to Net Income.

Every business tends to face threats during its operations, however what is important is how the organization handles its threats. The main threats that the United Airline faces include. Future oil prices, intense competition and the world economy.

Airlines Industry is large and growing, it is also the most fiercely competitive sector. It facilitates international trade, world economy growth, tourism and international investment. The airline industry has over time with the use of modern technology been able to take advantage of the short haul, high frequency and gained a competitive advantage over other forms of travel, such as buses and railroad travel. Additionally, the airline industry still holds the market for global travel at a low cost and convenient way to travel. The aviation industry gives a good contribution to the GDP which includes the following: airline services, general aviation, civil airport operations, aircraft manufacturing, and

Upon review on a profile of a successful company we see Southwest Airlines as a prime example. Their ability to recognize weakness in their management system and adjust strategies has allowed them to emerge as a leader in the US airline industry. Southwest is the largest US low fare carrier with low fare rates, no additional fees and excellent customer service. Southwest Airlines currently has one of the most innovative management practices in the US to date. A review of the critical elements of Southwest Airlines proves to be effective and innovative.

Airline industry is the major engine powering the globalization of businesses and services. Prior to 1970’s, the airline industry was mainly owned and controlled by the governments in different countries. There was no free market competition as travelers have to make do with the services and prices available to them from the few airlines. But with the deregulation of the airline industry that swept across the world after 1970, entry barriers were lowered allowing new start-up of many airline companies, thus engendering competition in the airlines industry. This has led to competitions in various fronts, especially in prices and services provided onboard the flight. This competition has led to formulation of various business modules and the re-strategizing of the already existing and new start-up companies, in order for them to survive the new business environment. The operating environment of the airline industry continues to evolve, thereby presenting a significant challenge for the survival of the industry. Different models and frameworks have been formulated for analyzing the operating environment of various industries. In analyzing the operating environment, it is vital to indentify the different factors that might affect the organization cost, supply and demand. PEST (Political, Economical, Social and Technological) is one of the framework used for analyzing the macro-environment affecting organizations in a

1) Introduction to airline industry 2) Drivers of globalisation using yip’s model 2.1 Market globalisation 2.2 Cost globalisation 2.3 Globalisation of government policies 2.4 Globalisation of competition 3) Localisation- arguments against globalisation 4) Pestle Analysis 5) Porter’s 5 forces analysis and their application to Airline industry 5.1 Rivalry amongst Existing Firms 5.2 Threat of substitution 5.3 Threat of new entrants 5.4 Power of customers 5.5 Power of buyers 6) Opportunities and Threats of Airline industry 7) Internal analysis of Virgin Airlines: Strengths and Weakness 8) Financial Statics of Virgin Atlantic Airline 9) Strategic Changes of Virgin