IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jaitra/v66y2018icp42-52.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Modeling the selection of airline network structure in a competitive environment

Author

Listed:
  • Babić, Danica
  • Kalić, Milica

Abstract

This paper deals with modeling the selection of airline network structures for airlines operating in a competitive environment. In order to capture interactions between competing airlines when choosing the structure of their networks, the effects of product differentiation based on prices, flight frequencies, seat accessibility and route length have been considered. Competing airlines are supposed to be able to choose either point-to-point (PP) or hub-and-spoke (HS) network structure. Each choice is expected to have different implications on their profitability (i.e. costs and revenues) strongly influenced by different products offered to passengers. The main results indicate that there are direct benefits to users/passengers due to the simultaneous increase of flight frequencies and unchanging prices, which leads to the socially-optimal choices of prices and flight frequencies. In addition, modeling which includes route lengths opens new perspectives on coexistence between the two different business models. Integration of these parameters results in selecting an airline network structure model in a competitive environment which enables passengers to differentiate among the offered transport services.

Suggested Citation

  • Babić, Danica & Kalić, Milica, 2018. "Modeling the selection of airline network structure in a competitive environment," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 42-52.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jaitra:v:66:y:2018:i:c:p:42-52
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jairtraman.2017.10.004
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096969971730145X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jairtraman.2017.10.004?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ken Hendricks & Michele Piccione & Guofu Tan, 1995. "The Economics of Hubs: The Case of Monopoly," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 62(1), pages 83-99.
    2. Burghouwt, Guillaume & de Wit, Jaap G., 2015. "In the wake of liberalisation: long-term developments in the EU air transport market," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 104-113.
    3. Silva, Hugo E. & Verhoef, Erik T. & van den Berg, Vincent A.C., 2014. "Airline route structure competition and network policy," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 320-343.
    4. Hanaoka, Shinya & Takebayashi, Mikio & Ishikura, Tomoki & Saraswati, Batari, 2014. "Low-cost carriers versus full service carriers in ASEAN: The impact of liberalization policy on competition," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 96-105.
    5. Jan K. Brueckner, 2004. "Network Structure and Airline Scheduling," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(2), pages 291-312, June.
    6. Pai, Vivek, 2010. "On the factors that affect airline flight frequency and aircraft size," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 16(4), pages 169-177.
    7. Tae Hoon Oum & Anming Zhang & Yimin Zhang, 1995. "Airline Network Rivalry," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 28(4a), pages 836-857, November.
    8. Flores-Fillol, Ricardo, 2009. "Airline competition and network structure," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 43(10), pages 966-983, December.
    9. Silva, Hugo E. & Verhoef, Erik T., 2013. "Optimal pricing of flights and passengers at congested airports and the efficiency of atomistic charges," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 1-13.
    10. Tsoukalas, Gerassimos & Belobaba, Peter & Swelbar, William, 2008. "Cost convergence in the US airline industry: An analysis of unit costs 1995–2006," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 14(4), pages 179-187.
    11. 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.
    12. Jan Brueckner & Ricardo Flores-Fillol, 2007. "Airline Schedule Competition," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 30(3), pages 161-177, May.
    13. Ken Hendricks & Michele Piccione & Guofu Tan, 1999. "Equilibria in Networks," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 67(6), pages 1407-1434, November.
    14. Windle, Robert & Dresner, Martin, 1999. "Competitive responses to low cost carrier entry," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 59-75, March.
    15. Li, Zhi-Chun & Lam, William H.K. & Wong, S.C. & Fu, Xiaowen, 2010. "Optimal route allocation in a liberalizing airline market," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 44(7), pages 886-902, August.
    16. Joseph Berechman & Oz Shy, 1996. "The Structure of Airline Equilibrium Networks," Advances in Spatial Science, in: Jeroen C. J. M. Bergh & Peter Nijkamp & Piet Rietveld (ed.), Recent Advances in Spatial Equilibrium Modelling, chapter 7, pages 138-155, Springer.
    17. Brueckner, Jan K., 2009. "Price vs. quantity-based approaches to airport congestion management," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 93(5-6), pages 681-690, June.
    18. Takebayashi, Mikio, 2013. "Network competition and the difference in operating cost: Model analysis," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 85-94.
    19. Pels, Eric, 2009. "Network competition in the open aviation area," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 15(2), pages 83-89.
    20. Burghouwt, Guillaume & Hakfoort, Jacco, 2001. "The evolution of the European aviation network, 1990–1998," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 7(5), pages 311-318.
    21. Alderighi, Marco & Cento, Alessandro & Nijkamp, Peter & Rietveld, Piet, 2005. "Network competition—the coexistence of hub-and-spoke and point-to-point systems," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 11(5), pages 328-334.
    22. Hugo E. Silva & Erik T. Verhoef, 2011. "Optimal Pricing of Flights and Passengers at Congested Airports: The Efficiency of Atomistic Charges," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 11-179/3, Tinbergen Institute, revised 28 Mar 2013.
    23. Oum, Tae Hoon & Yu, Chunyan, 1995. "A productivity comparison of the world's major airlines," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 2(3), pages 181-195.
    24. Douglas W. Caves & Laurits R. Christensen & Michael W. Tretheway, 1984. "Economies of Density versus Economies of Scale: Why Trunk and Local Service Airline Costs Differ," RAND Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 15(4), pages 471-489, Winter.
    25. Jeroen C. J. M. Bergh & Peter Nijkamp & Piet Rietveld (ed.), 1996. "Recent Advances in Spatial Equilibrium Modelling," Advances in Spatial Science, Springer, number 978-3-642-80080-1, Fall.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Babić, Danica & Begović, Boris & Levajković, Tijana, 2023. "Probabilistic model for the impact of fear of flying on airline network structures," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    2. Silva, Hugo E. & Verhoef, Erik T. & van den Berg, Vincent A.C., 2014. "Airline route structure competition and network policy," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 320-343.
    3. Lin, Ming Hsin & Zhang, Anming, 2016. "Hub congestion pricing: Discriminatory passenger charges," Economics of Transportation, Elsevier, vol. 5(C), pages 37-48.
    4. Wang, Chunan & Wang, Xiaoyu, 2019. "Airport congestion delays and airline networks," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 328-349.
    5. Anming Zhang & Yimin Zhang & Joseph A. Clougherty, 2011. "Competition and Regulation in Air Transport," Chapters, in: André de Palma & Robin Lindsey & Emile Quinet & Roger Vickerman (ed.), A Handbook of Transport Economics, chapter 35, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    6. Flores-Fillol, Ricardo, 2009. "Airline competition and network structure," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 43(10), pages 966-983, December.
    7. Fu, Xiaowen & Jin, Huan & Liu, Shaoxuan & Oum, Tae H. & Yan, Jia, 2019. "Exploring network effects of point-to-point networks: An investigation of the spatial patterns of Southwest Airlines’ network," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 36-45.
    8. Lin, Ming Hsin & Zhang, Yimin, 2017. "Hub-airport congestion pricing and capacity investment," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 89-106.
    9. Yetiskul, Emine & Matsushima, Kakuya & Kobayashi, Kiyoshi, 2005. "Airline Network Structure with Thick Market Externality," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 13(1), pages 143-163, January.
    10. Pels, Eric, 2021. "Product differentiation and network optimality," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 415-429.
    11. Lin, Ming Hsin, 2012. "Airlines-within-airlines strategies and existence of low-cost carriers," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(3), pages 637-651.
    12. Akio Kawasaki, 2012. "Hub location with scheduling effects in a monopoly airline market," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 49(3), pages 805-819, December.
    13. Lin, Ming Hsin, 2021. "Airport pricing and capacity: Schedule versus congestion delays," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    14. Fageda, Xavier & Flores-Fillol, Ricardo & Lin, Ming Hsin, 2020. "Vertical differentiation and airline alliances: The effect of antitrust immunity," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    15. Kawamori, Tomohiko & Lin, Ming Hsin, 2013. "Airline mergers with low cost carriers," Economics of Transportation, Elsevier, vol. 2(2), pages 63-71.
    16. Tu, Ningwen & Li, Zhi-Chun & Fu, Xiaowen & Lei, Zheng, 2020. "Airline network competition in inter-continental market," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    17. Roucolle, Chantal & Seregina, Tatiana & Urdanoz, Miguel, 2020. "Measuring the development of airline networks: Comprehensive indicators," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 303-324.
    18. Fageda, Xavier & Flores-Fillol, Ricardo, 2012. "Air services on thin routes: Regional versus low-cost airlines," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(4), pages 702-714.
    19. Sayed Ajaz Hussain & Serkan Bahceci, 2008. "Network Structure and Design in the Deregulated U.S. Airline Industry: an Argument for Re-Regulation?," Working Papers tecipa-325, University of Toronto, Department of Economics.
    20. Jia Yan & Xiaowen Fu & Tae Oum, 2008. "Exploring Network Effects of Point-to-Point Networks: An Investigation of the Spatial Entry Patterns of Southwest Airlines," Working Papers 2008-21, School of Economic Sciences, Washington State University.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:jaitra:v:66:y:2018:i:c:p:42-52. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-air-transport-management/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.