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Dynamic pricing and market segmentation responses to low-cost carrier entry

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  • Varella, Rafael R.
  • Frazão, Jessica
  • Oliveira, Alessandro V.M.

Abstract

This paper develops an empirical model of online airfares to inspect the impact of the entry of a low-cost carrier (LCC). We utilize a database collected from the website of an online travel agent in Brazil. We test whether incumbents reshape their airfare temporal profiles in an attempt to attract the price-sensitive passengers who constitute the target market of the newcomer. Our results suggest that LCC entry partially spoils the existing market segmentation schemes of incumbents, forcing them to revise their distribution management strategy, simplify their fare structure and migrate from a non-monotonic to a weakly monotonic price curve.

Suggested Citation

  • Varella, Rafael R. & Frazão, Jessica & Oliveira, Alessandro V.M., 2017. "Dynamic pricing and market segmentation responses to low-cost carrier entry," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 151-170.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:transe:v:98:y:2017:i:c:p:151-170
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tre.2016.12.010
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    Cited by:

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    3. Zuidberg, Joost, 2019. "Network geographies and financial performances in low-cost carrier versus network carrier competition: The case of Norwegian versus SAS," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 1-1.
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    5. Soyk, Christian & Ringbeck, Jürgen & Spinler, Stefan, 2021. "Effect of long-haul low-cost carriers on North Atlantic air fares," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    6. Miyoshi, Chikage & Rubio Molina-Prados, Jesus, 2022. "Measuring the impact of long-haul low-cost carriers on lowering fares: A quasi-experimental design to assess the pre-COVID market," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 52-64.
    7. Alavi Fard, Farzad & Sy, Malick & Ivanov, Dmitry, 2019. "Optimal overbooking strategies in the airlines using dynamic programming approach in continuous time," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 384-399.
    8. Fukushi, Mitsuyoshi & Delgado, Felipe & Raveau, Sebastián & Santos, Bruno F., 2022. "CHAIRS: A choice-based air transport simulator applied to airline competition and revenue management," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 297-315.
    9. Zhang, Li-Hao & Liu, Chunxiao & Zhang, Cheng & Wang, Shanshan, 2023. "Upstream encroachment and downstream outsourcing in competing shipping supply chains," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    10. Bernardo, Valeria & Fageda, Xavier, 2020. "Impacts of competition on connecting travelers: Evidence from the transatlantic aviation market," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 141-151.
    11. Edward C. S. Ku & Chun-Der Chen, 2020. "Flying on the clouds: how mobile applications enhance impulsive buying of low cost carriers," Service Business, Springer;Pan-Pacific Business Association, vol. 14(1), pages 23-45, March.
    12. Renan P. de Oliveira & Alessandro V. M. Oliveira & Gui Lohmann, 2021. "A Network-Design Analysis of Airline Business Model Adaptation in the Face of Competition and Consolidation," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 55(2), pages 532-548, March.
    13. Valido, Jorge & Socorro, M. Pilar & Medda, Francesca, 2020. "Airport capacity and entry deterrence: Low cost versus full service airlines," Economics of Transportation, Elsevier, vol. 22(C).
    14. Chiambaretto, Paul & Combe, Emmanuel, 2023. "Business model hybridization but heterogeneous economic performance: Insights from low-cost and legacy carriers in Europe," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 83-97.
    15. Peng Du & Lei Xu & Rou Luo & Mingzhu Hou, 2024. "Competing with Low Cost Carrier in a Sustainable Environment: Airline Ticket Pricing, Carbon Trading, and Market Power Structure," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-17, January.
    16. Ku, Edward C.S., 2022. "Developing business process agility: Evidence from inter-organizational information systems of airlines and travel agencies," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    17. Shen, Ching-Cheng & Yeh, Chien-Chi & Lin, Chun-Nan, 2022. "Using the perspective of business information technology technicians to explore how information technology affects business competitive advantage," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Airlines; Yield management; Distribution management; Online travel agency;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • 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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