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A retrospective analysis of the effects of airline mergers on China Eastern's ‘lifeline’ routes: a difference-in-differences approach

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  • Yahua Zhang

Abstract

We have seen a wave of mega airline mergers in the past few years including Air France/KLM, Delta/Northwest (NW) and United/Continental. However, literature examining the post-merger effects remains sparse. Using a difference-in-differences (DD) approach, this study examines the airfares on China Eastern's three ‘lifeline’ routes, Shanghai–Beijing, Shanghai–Guangzhou and Shanghai–Shenzhen, after the 2002 airline mergers that eliminated six state-owned airlines and resulted in three large airline groups. Passengers on these important routes seem to have not been adversely impacted, and even in 2007, the airfares were not significantly higher than that of the 2002 level despite the rise in fuel price, which may provide some evidence to support the 2009 merger between China Eastern and Shanghai Airlines and justify a lenient anti-trust treatment of mergers in China's airline industry. Retrospectively examining the actual effects of consummated mergers in China including this research has significant policy implications for the new Anti-Monopoly Law enforcement agencies that have little experience and knowledge in dealing with airline mergers and alliances at this stage.

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  • Yahua Zhang, 2012. "A retrospective analysis of the effects of airline mergers on China Eastern's ‘lifeline’ routes: a difference-in-differences approach," Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(3), pages 464-475.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rjapxx:v:17:y:2012:i:3:p:464-475
    DOI: 10.1080/13547860.2012.694701
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Joanna Stavins, 2001. "Price Discrimination in the Airline Market: The Effect of Market Concentration," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 83(1), pages 200-202, February.
    2. Baumol, William J, 1982. "Contestable Markets: An Uprising in the Theory of Industry Structure," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 72(1), pages 1-15, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chen, Chien-Hsun, 2023. "The Emergence of China’s Mergers and Acquisitions Market," MPRA Paper 116615, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Ho, Chun-Yu & McCarthy, Patrick & Wang, Yanhao, 2021. "Competition and countervailing power: Evidence from the China Eastern and Shanghai Airlines merger," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    3. Wang, Kun & Zhang, Anming & Zhang, Yahua, 2018. "Key determinants of airline pricing and air travel demand in China and India: Policy, ownership, and LCC competition," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 80-89.
    4. Suchi Kapoor Malhotra & Howard White & Nina Ashley O. Dela Cruz & Ashrita Saran & John Eyers & Denny John & Ella Beveridge & Nina Blöndal, 2021. "Studies of the effectiveness of transport sector interventions in low‐ and middle‐income countries: An evidence and gap map," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(4), December.
    5. Ma, Wenliang & Wang, Qiang & Yang, Hangjun & Zhang, Yahua, 2020. "Evaluating the price effects of two airline mergers in China," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).

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