IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i10p4165-d360426.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Key Determinants of Airline Loyalty Modeling in Thailand

Author

Listed:
  • Dissakoon Chonsalasin

    (School of Transportation Engineering, Institute of Engineering, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand)

  • Sajjakaj Jomnonkwao

    (School of Transportation Engineering, Institute of Engineering, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand)

  • Vatanavongs Ratanavaraha

    (School of Transportation Engineering, Institute of Engineering, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand)

Abstract

The airline industry in Thailand has grown enormously over the past decade. Competition among airline companies to reach market share and profit has been intense, requiring strong strategic abilities. To increase the service quality of such companies, identifying factors related to the context of airlines is important for policymakers. Thus, this study aims to present empirical data on structural factors related to the loyalty of domestic airline passengers. Structural equation modeling was used to confirm the proposed model. The questionnaire was used to survey and collect data from 1600 airline passengers. The results indicate that satisfaction, trust, perceived quality, relationship, and image of airlines positively influenced loyalty with a statistical significance of α = 0.05. Moreover, the study found that expectation and perceived quality indirectly influenced loyalty. The findings provide a reference for airline operators to clearly understand the factors that motivate passenger loyalty, which can be used to develop the sustainability of marketing strategies and support competitiveness.

Suggested Citation

  • Dissakoon Chonsalasin & Sajjakaj Jomnonkwao & Vatanavongs Ratanavaraha, 2020. "Key Determinants of Airline Loyalty Modeling in Thailand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-17, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:10:p:4165-:d:360426
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/10/4165/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/10/4165/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Eunil Park & Sanghoon Lee & Sang Jib Kwon & Angel P. Del Pobil, 2015. "Determinants of Behavioral Intention to Use South Korean Airline Services: Effects of Service Quality and Corporate Social Responsibility," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(9), pages 1-16, September.
    2. Forgas, Santiago & Moliner, Miguel A. & Sánchez, Javier & Palau, Ramon, 2010. "Antecedents of airline passenger loyalty: Low-cost versus traditional airlines," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 16(4), pages 229-233.
    3. Hassan, Mohammad Nurul & Hawas, Yaser E. & Ahmed, Kamran, 2013. "A multi-dimensional framework for evaluating the transit service performance," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 47-61.
    4. Farooq, Muhammad Shoaib & Salam, Maimoona & Fayolle, Alain & Jaafar, Norizan & Ayupp, Kartinah, 2018. "Impact of service quality on customer satisfaction in Malaysia airlines: A PLS-SEM approach," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 169-180.
    5. Alok Kumar Singh, 2015. "Modeling passengers’ future behavioral intentions in airline industry using SEM," Journal of Advances in Management Research, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 12(2), pages 107-127, August.
    6. Lee, C.K.M. & Ng, K.K.H. & Chan, Hing Kai & Choy, K.L. & Tai, W.C. & Choi, L.S., 2018. "A multi-group analysis of social media engagement and loyalty constructs between full-service and low-cost carriers in Hong Kong," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 46-57.
    7. Sanghoon Lee & Eunil Park & Sang Jib Kwon & Angel P. Del Pobil, 2015. "Antecedents of Behavioral Intention to Use Mobile Telecommunication Services: Effects of Corporate Social Responsibility and Technology Acceptance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(8), pages 1-15, August.
    8. Forgas, Santiago & Palau, Ramon & Sánchez, Javier & Huertas-García, Rubén, 2012. "Online drivers and offline influences related to loyalty to airline websites," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 18(1), pages 43-46.
    9. Nesset, Erik & Helgesen, Øyvind, 2014. "Effects of switching costs on customer attitude loyalty to an airport in a multi-airport region," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 240-253.
    10. Kim, Yu Kyoung & Lee, Hyung Ryong, 2011. "Customer satisfaction using low cost carriers," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 32(2), pages 235-243.
    11. Hussain, Rahim & Al Nasser, Amjad & Hussain, Yomna K., 2015. "Service quality and customer satisfaction of a UAE-based airline: An empirical investigation," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 167-175.
    12. Chen, Shu-Ching, 2012. "The customer satisfaction–loyalty relation in an interactive e-service setting: The mediators," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 19(2), pages 202-210.
    13. Cho, Sang-Hee & Ali, Faizan & Manhas, Parikshat Singh, 2018. "Examining the impact of risk perceptions on intentions to travel by air: A comparison of full -service carriers and low-cost carriers," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 20-27.
    14. Chen, Ching-Fu, 2008. "Investigating structural relationships between service quality, perceived value, satisfaction, and behavioral intentions for air passengers: Evidence from Taiwan," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 42(4), pages 709-717, May.
    15. Rajaguru, Rajesh, 2016. "Role of value for money and service quality on behavioural intention: A study of full service and low cost airlines," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 114-122.
    16. Park, Jin-Woo & Robertson, Rodger & Wu, Cheng-Lung, 2004. "The effect of airline service quality on passengers’ behavioural intentions: a Korean case study," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 10(6), pages 435-439.
    17. Myungsook An & Yonghwi Noh, 2009. "Airline customer satisfaction and loyalty: impact of in-flight service quality," Service Business, Springer;Pan-Pacific Business Association, vol. 3(3), pages 293-307, September.
    18. Jin-Woo Park & Rodger Robertson & Cheng-Lung Wu, 2009. "Differences in air passengers’ buying behaviour: findings from Korean and Australian international passengers," Transportation Planning and Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(5), pages 441-460, April.
    19. Medina-Muñoz, Diego Ramón & Medina-Muñoz, Rita Dolores & Suárez-Cabrera, Miguel à ngel, 2018. "Determining important attributes for assessing the attractiveness of airlines," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 45-56.
    20. Chen, Lu & Li, Yong-Quan & Liu, Chih-Hsing, 2019. "How airline service quality determines the quantity of repurchase intention - Mediate and moderate effects of brand quality and perceived value," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 185-197.
    21. William Jen & Rungting Tu & Tim Lu, 2011. "Managing passenger behavioral intention: an integrated framework for service quality, satisfaction, perceived value, and switching barriers," Transportation, Springer, vol. 38(2), pages 321-342, March.
    22. Chen, Ching-Fu & Kao, Ya-Ling, 2011. "The antecedents and consequences of job stress of flight attendants – Evidence from Taiwan," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 17(4), pages 253-255.
    23. Jin-Woo Park & Rodger Robertson & Cheng-Lung Wu, 2006. "Modelling the Impact of Airline Service Quality and Marketing Variables on Passengers’ Future Behavioural Intentions," Transportation Planning and Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(5), pages 359-381, July.
    24. Chiou, Yu-Chiun & Chen, Yen-Heng, 2010. "Factors influencing the intentions of passengers regarding full service and low cost carriers: A note," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 16(4), pages 226-228.
    25. Yang, Keng-Chieh & Hsieh, Tsui-Chuan & Li, Hendrik & Yang, Chyan, 2012. "Assessing how service quality, airline image and customer value affect the intentions of passengers regarding low cost carriers," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 20(C), pages 52-53.
    26. Jones, Michael A. & Mothersbaugh, David L. & Beatty, Sharon E., 2002. "Why customers stay: measuring the underlying dimensions of services switching costs and managing their differential strategic outcomes," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 55(6), pages 441-450, June.
    27. Stewart Pearson, 1996. "Building Business Brands Directly," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Building Brands Directly, chapter 15, pages 348-366, Palgrave Macmillan.
    28. Han, Heesup, 2013. "Effects of in-flight ambience and space/function on air travelers' decision to select a low-cost airline," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 125-135.
    29. Kos Koklic, Mateja & Kukar-Kinney, Monika & Vegelj, Spela, 2017. "An investigation of customer satisfaction with low-cost and full-service airline companies," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 188-196.
    30. Akamavi, Raphaël K. & Mohamed, Elsayed & Pellmann, Katharina & Xu, Yue, 2015. "Key determinants of passenger loyalty in the low-cost airline business," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 528-545.
    31. Han, Heesup & Yu, Jongsik & Kim, Wansoo, 2019. "An electric airplane: Assessing the effect of travelers' perceived risk, attitude, and new product knowledge," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 33-42.
    32. Stewart Pearson, 1996. "Building Brands Directly," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-1-349-13771-8.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ukrit Suksanguan & Somsak Siwadamrongpong & Thanapong Champahom & Sajjakaj Jomnonkwao & Tassana Boonyoo & Vatanavongs Ratanavaraha, 2022. "Structural Equation Model of Factors Influencing the Selection of Industrial Waste Disposal Service in Cement Kilns," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-19, March.
    2. Kattreeya Chanpariyavatevong & Warit Wipulanusat & Thanapong Champahom & Sajjakaj Jomnonkwao & Dissakoon Chonsalasin & Vatanavongs Ratanavaraha, 2021. "Predicting Airline Customer Loyalty by Integrating Structural Equation Modeling and Bayesian Networks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-21, June.
    3. Thanapong Champahom & Sajjakaj Jomnonkwao & Woraanong Thotongkam & Pornsiri Jongkol & Porntip Rodpon & Vatanavongs Ratanavaraha, 2023. "Investigating Parents’ Attitudes towards the Use of Child Restraint Systems by Comparing Non-Users and User Parents," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-24, February.
    4. Bi, Hui & Ye, Zhirui & Hu, Liyang & Zhu, He, 2021. "Why they don't choose bus service? Understanding special online car-hailing behavior near bus stops," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 280-297.
    5. Nijolė Batarlienė & Neringa Slavinskaitė, 2023. "Assessment of Factors Determining Airline Consumer Loyalty: Case Study in Lithuania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-15, January.
    6. Ahmad Nazrul Hakimi Ibrahim & Muhamad Nazri Borhan & Mohd Haniff Osman & Faridah Hanim Khairuddin & Nur Mustakiza Zakaria, 2022. "An Empirical Study of Passengers’ Perceived Satisfaction with Monorail Service Quality: Case of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-17, May.
    7. Thowayeb H. Hassan & Amany E. Salem, 2021. "Impact of Service Quality of Low-Cost Carriers on Airline Image and Consumers’ Satisfaction and Loyalty during the COVID-19 Outbreak," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-16, December.
    8. Nguyen-Phuoc, Duy Q. & Phuong Tran, Anh Thi & Nguyen, Tiep Van & Le, Phuong Thi & Su, Diep Ngoc, 2021. "Investigating the complexity of perceived service quality and perceived safety and security in building loyalty among bus passengers in Vietnam – A PLS-SEM approach," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 162-173.

    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. Park, Eunil & Jang, Yeonju & Kim, Jina & Jeong, Nam Jeong & Bae, Kunwoo & del Pobil, Angel P., 2019. "Determinants of customer satisfaction with airline services: An analysis of customer feedback big data," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 186-190.
    2. Lee, C.K.M. & Ng, K.K.H. & Chan, Hing Kai & Choy, K.L. & Tai, W.C. & Choi, L.S., 2018. "A multi-group analysis of social media engagement and loyalty constructs between full-service and low-cost carriers in Hong Kong," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 46-57.
    3. Singh, Balgopal, 2021. "Predicting airline passengers’ loyalty using artificial neural network theory," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    4. de Oña, Juan, 2021. "Understanding the mediator role of satisfaction in public transport: A cross-country analysis," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 129-149.
    5. Shen, Chao & Yahya, Yazkhiruni, 2021. "The impact of service quality and price on passengers' loyalty towards low-cost airlines: The Southeast Asia perspective," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    6. Sezgen, Eren & Mason, Keith J. & Mayer, Robert, 2019. "Voice of airline passenger: A text mining approach to understand customer satisfaction," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 65-74.
    7. Henderson, Isaac Levi & Tsui, Kan Wai Hong & Ngo, Thanh & Gilbey, Andrew & Avis, Mark, 2019. "Airline brand choice in a duopolistic market: The case of New Zealand," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 147-163.
    8. Juan de Oña & Rocio de Oña, 2015. "Quality of Service in Public Transport Based on Customer Satisfaction Surveys: A Review and Assessment of Methodological Approaches," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 49(3), pages 605-622, August.
    9. Kattreeya Chanpariyavatevong & Warit Wipulanusat & Thanapong Champahom & Sajjakaj Jomnonkwao & Dissakoon Chonsalasin & Vatanavongs Ratanavaraha, 2021. "Predicting Airline Customer Loyalty by Integrating Structural Equation Modeling and Bayesian Networks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-21, June.
    10. de Oña, Juan, 2020. "The role of involvement with public transport in the relationship between service quality, satisfaction and behavioral intentions," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 296-318.
    11. Eunil Park & Sanghoon Lee & Sang Jib Kwon & Angel P. Del Pobil, 2015. "Determinants of Behavioral Intention to Use South Korean Airline Services: Effects of Service Quality and Corporate Social Responsibility," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(9), pages 1-16, September.
    12. Kurtulmuşoğlu, Feride Bahar & Can, Gülin Feryal & Tolon, Metehan, 2016. "A voice in the skies: Listening to airline passenger preferences," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 130-137.
    13. Maria Grazia Bellizzi & Luigi dell’Olio & Laura Eboli & Carmen Forciniti & Gabriella Mazzulla, 2020. "Passengers’ Expectations on Airlines’ Services: Design of a Stated Preference Survey and Preliminary Outcomes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-14, June.
    14. Bellizzi, Maria Grazia & dell’Olio, Luigi & Eboli, Laura & Mazzulla, Gabriella, 2021. "Detecting passengers' heterogeneity on airlines’ services using SP data," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    15. Bezerra, George C.L. & Gomes, Carlos F., 2020. "Antecedents and consequences of passenger satisfaction with the airport," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    16. Thowayeb H. Hassan & Amany E. Salem, 2021. "Impact of Service Quality of Low-Cost Carriers on Airline Image and Consumers’ Satisfaction and Loyalty during the COVID-19 Outbreak," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-16, December.
    17. Jun Hwan Kim & Hyun Cheol Lee, 2019. "Understanding the Repurchase Intention of Premium Economy Passengers Using an Extended Theory of Planned Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-19, June.
    18. Andrea Moretta Tartaglione & Ylenia Cavacece & Giuseppe Russo & Giuseppe Granata, 2019. "A Systematic Mapping Study on Customer Loyalty and Brand Management," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-21, January.
    19. Samanci, Simge & Didem Atalay, Kumru & Bahar Isin, Feride, 2021. "Focusing on the big picture while observing the concerns of both managers and passengers in the post-covid era," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    20. Bayuaji Prasetyo & Areo, Adebowale Biodun & Omotayo, Vincent Adewale, 2020. "Board Attributes And Quality Of Financial Reporting In Nigerian Companies: An Empirical Evidence," Malaysian E Commerce Journal (MECJ), Zibeline International Publishing, vol. 4(2), pages 33-38:4, May.

    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:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:10:p:4165-:d:360426. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.