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On the optimal distribution of traffic of network airlines

Xavier Fageda and Ricardo Flores-Fillol

European Economic Review, 2012, vol. 56, issue 6, 1164-1179

Abstract: Network airlines have increasingly focused their operations on hub airports through the exploitation of connecting traffic. However, in this paper we show that they may also have incentives to divert traffic away from their hubs. More precisely, we examine how the optimal distribution of traffic of network carriers can be affected by the two major recent innovations in the airline industry: the regional jet technology and the low-cost business model. On the one hand, we show that a network airline may find it profitable to serve thin point-to-point routes with regional jets when the distance between endpoints is sufficiently short and there is a high proportion of business travelers. On the other hand, we observe that a network airline may be interested in serving thin point-to-point routes by means of a low-cost subsidiary when the distance between endpoints is longer and there is a high proportion of leisure travelers. We conclude that network airlines are using those innovations to provide services on thin routes out of the hubs.

Keywords: Regional jet technology; Low-cost business model; Point-to-point network; Hub-and-spoke network (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L13 L2 L93 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (18)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:eecrev:v:56:y:2012:i:6:p:1164-1179

DOI: 10.1016/j.euroecorev.2012.05.001

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European Economic Review is currently edited by T.S. Eicher, A. Imrohoroglu, E. Leeper, J. Oechssler and M. Pesendorfer

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