Airline Survival Kit

This book has clear aims: to address both the multi-faceted challenge - that the industry has never made any sustainable profits, and some possible opportunities for its different constituents (e.g. management, labor, and governments) to enable airlines to break out of the almost zero profit-margin game. It provides pragmatic insights into: the complexities of the airline business; the actual and perceived obstacles to achieving reasonable profit margin; past and present (successful and unsuccessful) strategies; plausible future prospects for global passenger growth; and alternative airline business models - particularly the type of models that have led to enduring success for a few. The audience includes airline senior executives, members of the board, major shareholders, government policy makers, labor leadership, the airline investment community, aircraft manufacturers. Contents: Foreword, Masashi Izumi, All Nippon Airlines; Foreword, Pete McGlade, Southwest Airlines; Foreword, Scott Nason, American Airlines; Foreword, Carsten Spohr, Lufthansa German Airlines. The heavy burden of excess complexity; Hard-won lessons: the continuum from success to failure; The shakeout continues; Healthy outcomes: seizing opportunities; Survival strategies and execution in an uncertain world; A whirlwind tour of some radical scenarios; Index; About the author.