Spirit Airlines Business Analysis

The airlines do not focus on the combination of quality and good service at a fair price; its focus is instead only on providing ultra low cost. It also charges customers for value added features and services. Thus the pricing is value added pricing. When compared to the competitors of Spirit for operating costs per seat mile; it is lower compared to other major airlines. The important points like encouragement to demand stimulation and preference for its low-cost model makes it successful for its low-cost pricing strategy.

: On average, over 8 million people fly around the world daily and over 2 billion fly in the United States daily. Everyone wants non expensive flights, comfortable seating, and on-time flights. Spirit Airlines is an airline that prides themselves on provided very low costs to customers and they strive to be the most cost efficient airline in regards to their competitors. “Spirit Airlines was founded in 1964 as a Clippert Trucking Company” (https://www.spirit.com/history.aspx) and has grown to servicing beyond coast –to- coast and has transitioned to low-cost carrier and ultra-low cost carrier. Spirit Airlines transitioned to Airbus fleet and consists of A319s, A320s, and A321. The A319s has seats 145 customers, the A320 seats 174 customers,

Many airlines offer a variety of service and flight options, and airlines have many different types of planes to meet that range of options. While this diversifies an airline 's offerings, it also increases operating costs and dilutes the core messaging of the company (Invesopedia, 2017). Southwest Airlines, on the other hand, only uses one type of plane, the Boeing 737. This saves Southwest Airlines millions in yearly maintenance costs and other operating costs this allows the company to offer low price solutions to its customers.

An analysis of Southwest Airlines strategic controls has been conducted in order to determine if these controls match, and or enhance, the companies design and strategy. The company structure, culture, and human resources have been taken into consideration. What was found, was that Southwest has a strong culture, which ties most of the strategies together. Supervisors and employees work side by side, which promotes trust and understanding. This analysis concluded that the strategies implemented by Southwest Airlines, does indeed fit the company strategy.

• Offer low fares and still maintain a high-quality distinguished product that offers friendly service and a comfortable and entertaining flight experience.

Managers at Ryanair implemented a strategy to keep operation costs low by limiting its fleet primarily to three variants of a single type of aircraft from a single manufacturer most of which are Boeing 737, this reduces the cost of personal training, maintenance and the purchase and storage of spare parts. It also leads to greater flexibility among crews as pilots and engineers are familiar with the aircraft. (www.ryanair.com)

Jerome Simelane, the airline's Commercial GM, “By using what we have learned over the years about international airline best practice‚ we have also created a cost structure which allows us to offer competitive fares without cutting any corners on quality‚ safety and reliability."

Virgin Australia which was formerly called Virgin Blue is the Australia’s second largest airline. The airline was started in 2000 by British business tycoon Sir Richard Branson and former Virgin Blue CEO Brett Godfrey. The airlines started as low-cost carrier, but went on to become a “new-world carrier” (Virgin Blue media release, 2011). This low cost airline went on to become a full-service airline by 2012 with the name of Virgin Australia. Since the year 2000 the airlines grew rapidly and posed threat to Qantas airline and over the years Virgin Blue looking at the marketing trends and characteristics of the aviation industry grew into a Full Service Airline and is considered a four star airline by research consultancy firm Skytrax.

Southwest Airlines is excellent in planning out their long-term goals. The above SWOT analysis proved that the company is successfully carrying out the cost leadership strategy to manipulate their competitors and boost up their company. Their mission in providing Low Fare cost is one of the best strategy that they can have to increase their market share, but not just that it also put a significant increase in the demand of air travel. Southwest Airline rapid rewards program is brilliant, so they should continue and expand it even more.

Over the years, company sustained low operation costs and tickets prices following well-developed strategy. Among other measures, it was able to keep prices low by flying only one airplane type, minimizing service and maintenance expenses, and convincing employees to cut gate turn-around times and make the airline more efficient (Fitzpatrick, 2005).

Technology is growing rapidly since the early 90’s and a lot has changed in the marketing sector on how businesses operate. The internet has made it possible for businesses to market their products and services through digital channels. According to Smallwood, (2016). “The way people connect, communicate, and share information online has evolved in ways unimaginable just a generation ago, yet from a marketer 's perspective the biggest change may be in the amount of information suddenly available.” Through digital media consumers are able to associate themselves with the products and services that are rendered. The three organizations I have seen advertised; that have specifically focused on digital media to market its products and or services are, Southwest Airline, John Foy & Associates, and the Coca-Cola Company.

2. Why have all of the low-cost subsidiaries of full-service airlines, including Delta Express, failed?

In April 1992, American Airlines launched "Value Pricing" -- a radical simplification of the complex pricing structure that had evolved over more than a decade following deregulation of the U.S. domestic airline industry. American expected that the new pricing structure would benefit consumers and restore profitability to both American and the industry as a whole. The critical issue raised is: Would American's bold initiative work?

The Airline industry has experienced continual problems with rising costs with both fuel and maintenance which has caused them to increase their fees to the consumers to pay for those rising costs. This paper will help explain what an airline such as Delta does to help alleviate such costs without forcing its consumers to flip the bill through high fees that consist of tickets, baggage fees and food. The costs of doing business in aviation today have spiraled out of control making it very expensive for both airlines and the

Most successful low-cost carriers try to offer a modicum of additional benefits, such as better on-time performance or more legroom. AirTran Airways has been very successful with its low-fare Business Class, while Frontier and JetBlue offer live in-flight television. US Airways offers a first class product, and a very extensive route network including international destinations.