Date of Defense
4-22-2016
Date of Graduation
4-2016
Department
Aviation
First Advisor
Willem Homan
Second Advisor
Gil Sinclair
Abstract
Operational Performance Management (OPM) plays a key role in any airline’s operation. In this paper we look at how Southwest Airlines and Delta Airlines differed in OPM activities for 2015 in key areas of strategic implementation that included route network, revenue management, mergers, fleet structure, fuel hedging, and the ever closing cost gap between air carriers in general. These topics prove to be vital areas that enable an airline to run properly and therefore are important areas for research. This investigation will reveal how the Southwest and Delta’s different business models affected their OPM activities and how business tactics over traditional strategic implementation resulted in success for both companies during 2015. Given the short-term focus of the U.S. airline business on financial results and the competitive nature of the industry as a whole this timely analysis will require further research in the years to come.
Recommended Citation
Bravman, Justin, "Southwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines: A Review of Key Planning Optimization Activities and Their Execution During 2015" (2016). Honors Theses. 2657.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/honors_theses/2657
Access Setting
Honors Thesis-Restricted