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Nonlinear Pricing Strategies And Competitive Conditions In The Airline Industry

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  • MANUEL A. HERNANDEZ
  • STEVEN N. WIGGINS

Abstract

type="main" xml:lang="en"> This paper empirically examines the effect of competitive conditions on nonlinear pricing strategies in the airline industry. We use a unique data set to analyze the impact of concentration and the competitive pressures generated by Southwest and other low cost carriers on the relative prices within a menu of fares. The menu orders tickets by quality based upon cabin and ticket restrictions. We analyze the ratio of fares charged for various qualities within the menu to the fares charged for the lowest quality nonrefundable, restricted tickets. We observe a fare compression for only the highest fares on only the most concentrated (i.e., monopoly) routes. This result is something of a puzzle given a monopolist's market power. We find, however, that actual and potential competition from Southwest reduces low end fares and generally leads to substantial fare compression throughout the fare menu. (JEL L11, L93)

Suggested Citation

  • Manuel A. Hernandez & Steven N. Wiggins, 2014. "Nonlinear Pricing Strategies And Competitive Conditions In The Airline Industry," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 52(2), pages 539-561, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ecinqu:v:52:y:2014:i:2:p:539-561
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Escobari, Diego & Rupp, Nicholas & Meskey, Joseph, 2018. "Dynamic Price Discrimination in Airlines," MPRA Paper 88078, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Diego Escobari & Nicholas G. Rupp & Joseph Meskey, 2019. "An Analysis of Dynamic Price Discrimination in Airlines," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 85(3), pages 639-662, January.
    5. He, Qingxin & Zheng, Xiaoyong, 2020. "Price discrimination across different ticket distribution channels: Evidence from the US-china flight market," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    6. Yao Cui & A. Yeşim Orhun & Izak Duenyas, 2019. "How Price Dispersion Changes When Upgrades Are Introduced: Theory and Empirical Evidence from the Airline Industry," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 65(8), pages 3835-3852, August.
    7. Seongman Moon & Makoto Watanabe, 2011. "Refundability and Price: Empirical Analysis on the Airline Industry," Working Papers 1107, Nam Duck-Woo Economic Research Institute, Sogang University (Former Research Institute for Market Economy).
    8. Ivaldi, Marc & Petrova, Milena & Urdanoz, Miguel, 2022. "Airline cooperation effects on airfare distribution: An auction-model-based approach," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 239-250.
    9. Marco Alderighi & Alessandro Cento & Peter Nijkamp & Piet Rietveld, 2011. "Second-degree Price Discrimination and Inter-group Effects in Airline Routes between European Cities," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 11-118/3, Tinbergen Institute.
    10. Liu, Cui & He, Rui-chun & Zhou, Wei & Li, Hui, 2021. "Dynamic analysis of airline bidding game based on nonlinear cost," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 565(C).
    11. Lewis, Matthew S., 2021. "Identifying airline price discrimination and the effect of competition," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    12. Ko, Young Dae, 2016. "An airline's management strategies in a competitive air transport market," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 53-61.
    13. Ivaldi, Marc & Petrova, Milena J & Urdanoz, Miguel, 2021. "Airline Cooperation Effects on Airfare Distribution: An Auction-model-based Approach," TSE Working Papers 21-1259, Toulouse School of Economics (TSE).
    14. Diego Escobari & Manuel A. Hernandez, 2019. "Separating Between Unobserved Consumer Types: Evidence From Airlines," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 57(2), pages 1215-1230, April.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • L11 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms
    • L93 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Air Transportation

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