The Success of easyJet and Other Low Cost Airlines is Due to Their Focus on Pursuing A Pure Low Cost Strategy and the Subsequent Ruthless and Effective Management of their Value Chain

Using theories by Michael Porter on competitive advantage, generic strategies and the value chain along with data obtained from the Civil Aviation Authority for easyJet and BMI British Midland this study examines what factors have contributed to the success of easyJet and the other low cost airlines...

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Main Author: Shrager, James
Format: Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)
Language:English
Published: 2007
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/21524/
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author Shrager, James
author_facet Shrager, James
author_sort Shrager, James
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description Using theories by Michael Porter on competitive advantage, generic strategies and the value chain along with data obtained from the Civil Aviation Authority for easyJet and BMI British Midland this study examines what factors have contributed to the success of easyJet and the other low cost airlines. The assertion is that easyJet and other low cost airlines have been successful due to their focus on a pure low cost strategy achieved through the ruthless and effective management of their value chain. After refining Porter's value chain to better fit the airline industry in the UK an analysis of cost and operational data for easyJet and BMI for the years 2001 and 2006 was carried out. The results obtained were significant with the data showing that easyJet manages to operate at costs that are between 55% and 65% of BMI's. These cost savings are achieved through a few fundamental principles that underlie the low cost airline model, these being high aircraft utilisation achieved through clever timetabling and fast turnarounds, high load factors, and ruthless cost control. The final part of the study evaluates whether, in my opinion, the low cost airline industry is sustainable in the UK and after careful consideration of arguments for and against the sustainability I conclude that as long as the airlines stick to the key underlying principles then the model is sustainable.
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spelling nottingham-215242018-01-25T10:39:59Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/21524/ The Success of easyJet and Other Low Cost Airlines is Due to Their Focus on Pursuing A Pure Low Cost Strategy and the Subsequent Ruthless and Effective Management of their Value Chain Shrager, James Using theories by Michael Porter on competitive advantage, generic strategies and the value chain along with data obtained from the Civil Aviation Authority for easyJet and BMI British Midland this study examines what factors have contributed to the success of easyJet and the other low cost airlines. The assertion is that easyJet and other low cost airlines have been successful due to their focus on a pure low cost strategy achieved through the ruthless and effective management of their value chain. After refining Porter's value chain to better fit the airline industry in the UK an analysis of cost and operational data for easyJet and BMI for the years 2001 and 2006 was carried out. The results obtained were significant with the data showing that easyJet manages to operate at costs that are between 55% and 65% of BMI's. These cost savings are achieved through a few fundamental principles that underlie the low cost airline model, these being high aircraft utilisation achieved through clever timetabling and fast turnarounds, high load factors, and ruthless cost control. The final part of the study evaluates whether, in my opinion, the low cost airline industry is sustainable in the UK and after careful consideration of arguments for and against the sustainability I conclude that as long as the airlines stick to the key underlying principles then the model is sustainable. 2007 Dissertation (University of Nottingham only) NonPeerReviewed application/pdf en https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/21524/1/06MAlixjs12.pdf Shrager, James (2007) The Success of easyJet and Other Low Cost Airlines is Due to Their Focus on Pursuing A Pure Low Cost Strategy and the Subsequent Ruthless and Effective Management of their Value Chain. [Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)] (Unpublished) low cost airlines no frills value chain Porter UK Airline industry
spellingShingle low cost airlines
no frills
value chain
Porter
UK Airline industry
Shrager, James
The Success of easyJet and Other Low Cost Airlines is Due to Their Focus on Pursuing A Pure Low Cost Strategy and the Subsequent Ruthless and Effective Management of their Value Chain
title The Success of easyJet and Other Low Cost Airlines is Due to Their Focus on Pursuing A Pure Low Cost Strategy and the Subsequent Ruthless and Effective Management of their Value Chain
title_full The Success of easyJet and Other Low Cost Airlines is Due to Their Focus on Pursuing A Pure Low Cost Strategy and the Subsequent Ruthless and Effective Management of their Value Chain
title_fullStr The Success of easyJet and Other Low Cost Airlines is Due to Their Focus on Pursuing A Pure Low Cost Strategy and the Subsequent Ruthless and Effective Management of their Value Chain
title_full_unstemmed The Success of easyJet and Other Low Cost Airlines is Due to Their Focus on Pursuing A Pure Low Cost Strategy and the Subsequent Ruthless and Effective Management of their Value Chain
title_short The Success of easyJet and Other Low Cost Airlines is Due to Their Focus on Pursuing A Pure Low Cost Strategy and the Subsequent Ruthless and Effective Management of their Value Chain
title_sort success of easyjet and other low cost airlines is due to their focus on pursuing a pure low cost strategy and the subsequent ruthless and effective management of their value chain
topic low cost airlines
no frills
value chain
Porter
UK Airline industry
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/21524/