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Airline Schedule Competition: Product-Quality Choice in a Duopoly Model

Author

Listed:
  • Jan K. Brueckner

    (Department of Economics, University of California-Irvine)

  • Ricardo Flores-Fillol

    (Departament d’Economia i d’Historia Economica, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona)

Abstract

This paper presents a simple model of airline schedule competition that circumvents the complexities of the spatial approach used in earlier papers. Consumers choose between two duopoly carriers, each of which has evenly spaced flights, by comparing the combinations of fare and expected schedule delay that they offer. In contrast to the spatial approach, the particular departure times of individual flights are thus not relevant. The model generates a number of useful comparative-static predictions, while welfare analysis shows that equilibrium flight frequencies tend to be inefficiently low.

Suggested Citation

  • Jan K. Brueckner & Ricardo Flores-Fillol, 2006. "Airline Schedule Competition: Product-Quality Choice in a Duopoly Model," Working Papers 050629, University of California-Irvine, Department of Economics.
  • Handle: RePEc:irv:wpaper:050629
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. John S. Heywood & Guangliang Ye, 2009. "Mixed Oligopoly, Sequential Entry, And Spatial Price Discrimination," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 47(3), pages 589-597, July.
    2. Heijdra, Ben J. & Ligthart, Jenny E., 2007. "Fiscal policy, monopolistic competition, and finite lives," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 325-359, January.
    3. Cui, Qiang & Li, Ye, 2020. "A cross efficiency distinguishing method to explore the cooperation degree in dynamic airline environmental efficiency," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 31-43.

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