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An Empirical Investigation of the Competitive Effects of Domestic Airline Alliances

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  • Gustavo E. Bamberger
  • Dennis W. Carlton
  • Lynette R. Neumann

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate empirically the effect of two recent domestic airline alliances. We find that both alliances benefited consumers - average fares fell and total traffic increased after the creation of the alliances on those city pairs affected by the alliances. We also find that these effects are found both on city pairs where the alliance created one or two new online carriers, and on city pairs where the alliance increased the service offered by one or both alliance partners. Finally, we find that the size of the fare effect of the alliance depends on the pre-alliance level of competition on a city pair with the effect being larger on those city pairs where the level of competition was relatively low.

Suggested Citation

  • Gustavo E. Bamberger & Dennis W. Carlton & Lynette R. Neumann, 2001. "An Empirical Investigation of the Competitive Effects of Domestic Airline Alliances," NBER Working Papers 8197, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:8197
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Park, Jong-Hun, 1997. "The effects of airline alliances on markets and economic welfare," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 181-195, September.
    2. Evans, William N & Froeb, Luke M & Werden, Gregory J, 1993. "Endogeneity in the Concentration-Price Relationship: Causes, Consequences, and Cures," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(4), pages 431-438, December.
    3. Dennis W. Carlton & William M. Landes & Richard A. Posner, 1980. "Benefits and Costs of Airline Mergers: A Case Study," Bell Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 11(1), pages 65-83, Spring.
    4. William N. Evans & Ioannis N. Kessides, 1994. "Living by the "Golden Rule": Multimarket Contact in the U. S. Airline Industry," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 109(2), pages 341-366.
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