Do Incumbents Improve Service Quality in Response to Entry? Evidence from Airlines’ On-Time Performance

Jeffrey Prince and Daniel H. Simon
Additional contact information
Daniel H. Simon: School of Public and Economic Affairs, Indiana University

No 2010-15, Working Papers from Indiana University, Kelley School of Business, Department of Business Economics and Public Policy

Abstract: We examine if and how incumbent firms respond to entry, and entry threats, using non-price modes of competition. Our analysis focuses on service quality within the airline industry. We find that incumbent on-time performance actually worsens in response to entry, and even entry threats, by Southwest Airlines. Given Southwest’s general superiority in on-time performance, this result is consistent with equilibria of theoretical models of quality and price competition, which generally predict differentiation along quality. We corroborate this intuition with further analysis, showing there is no notable response by incumbents when an airline with average on-time performance (Continental) threatens to enter or enters a route.

JEL-codes: L0 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010-09
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-com and nep-ure
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Do Incumbents Improve Service Quality in Response to Entry? Evidence from Airlines' On-Time Performance (2015)
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