Publications

September 2006 (Revised February 2010)
Supplement

Airbus vs. Boeing (C): Developments from 1996 to 1999

By: Ramon Casadesus-Masanell, Erich Alexander Voigt and Jordan Mitchell

Keywords: Business Model; Air Transportation Industry

October 2019
Supplement

Airbus vs. Boeing (K): New Partnerships (2018)

By: Ramon Casadesus-Masanell and Karen Elterman

This case describes Airbus’ partnership with the Montreal-based aircraft manufacturer Bombardier beginning in 2017. The two companies partnered on the C Series of aircraft (later named the A220 Family), which consisted of small aircraft with 100–150 seats. The case... View Details

Keywords: Product Development; Air Transportation; Projects; Competition; Partners and Partnerships; Joint Ventures; Manufacturing Industry; Air Transportation Industry; United States; Europe; Canada; Brazil

August 2023
Supplement

Airbus vs. Boeing (O): Aiming towards Carbon-Free Flying (June 2023)

By: Ramon Casadesus-Masanell and Jordan Mitchell

May 2001 (Revised August 2001)
Case

Airbus A3XX: Developing the World's Largest Commercial Jet (B)

By: Benjamin C. Esty and Michael Kane

Supplements the (A) case. View Details

Keywords: Research and Development; Aerospace Industry

December 2000 (Revised August 2001)
Teaching Note

Airbus A3XX: Developing the World's Largest Commercial Jet (A) and (B) TN

By: Benjamin C. Esty and Michael Kane

Teaching Note for (9-201-028) and (9-201-126). View Details

Keywords: Aerospace Industry

August 2023
Supplement

Airbus vs. Boeing (N): Air Travel amidst COVID-19 (July 2020)

By: Ramon Casadesus-Masanell and Jordan Mitchell

September 2013
Case

Boeing 787: More Electric Architecture

By: Willy Shih

The "more electric architecture" of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner represented a significant shift in the design of secondary power systems for commercial aircraft, compared to traditional designs that employed a mix of hydraulic, pneumatic, and electrical power. While the... View Details

Keywords: Boeing; 787; Airbus; A350XWB; Architectural Innovation; Technological Substitution; Technological Innovation; Vertical Integration; Air Transportation; Aerospace Industry; United States

January 2025
Case

COMAC - Chinese Aviation Soars to New Heights

By: William C. Kirby and Daniel Fu

COMAC's C919 manifested the first challenge to the Boeing-Airbus duopoly since it came to dominate aircraft manufacturing in the 1990s. Beijing sought to export the C919 abroad in its quest to become a "transportation superpower." Was it a wise decision for COMAC to... View Details

Keywords: Aviation; Boeing; Airbus; Aircraft; State-owned Enterprise (SOE); Chinese Manufacturing; Airline Industry; Airports; Global Strategy; Governing Rules, Regulations, and Reforms; Duopoly and Oligopoly; Supply Chain; Expansion; Aerospace Industry; China; United States; Europe

May 1991 (Revised October 1993)
Case

Collision Course in Commercial Aircraft: Boeing-Airbus-McDonnell Douglas--1991 (A)

By: David B. Yoffie

Describes the competitive situation that has arisen in the commercial aircraft manufacturing industry since Airbus entered in 1970. Having overtaken McDonnell Douglas for second place, Airbus announces plans to challenge market leader Boeing's last pocket of dominance.... View Details

Keywords: Transition; Trade; Ethics; Investment; Problems and Challenges; Business and Government Relations; Risk and Uncertainty; Sales; Competitive Strategy; Technology Adoption; Air Transportation Industry; Manufacturing Industry

October 2008 (Revised June 2011)
Case

JetBlue Airways: Managing Growth

By: Robert S. Huckman and Gary P. Pisano

Considers the situation facing David Barger, President and CEO of JetBlue Airways, in May 2007 as he addresses the airline's need to slow its growth rate in the response to increasing fuel costs and the effects of major operational crisis for the airline in February... View Details

Keywords: Growth and Development Strategy; Growth Management; Operations; Performance Capacity; Performance Efficiency; Competitive Strategy; Air Transportation Industry

February 1991 (Revised November 1993)
Supplement

Investment Analysis and Lockheed Tri Star

A set of five exercises in capital budgeting. Student calculates and compares various decision criteria (including IRR and NPV) for capital investment projects. This is an introductory case, where relevant cash flows are provided, and the focus is on the discounting... View Details

Keywords: Capital Budgeting; Manufacturing Industry; Air Transportation Industry

26 Jun 2007
First Look

First Look: June 26, 2007

paper: http://www.hbs.edu/research/pdf/07-022.pdf Cases & Course MaterialsAirbus vs. Boeing (B): Should Airbus Build the VLCT Alone? Harvard Business School Supplement 707-448 Supplements the (A) case. Purchase this supplement:... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

April 1992 (Revised February 1996)
Case

CFM International, Inc.

In April 1987 the management team of CFM International, Inc. (CFMI) was considering developing a new jet engine for the Airbus A340. The withdrawal of a competitor's engine had created an unforeseen opportunity for CFMI to re-enter a competition it had apparently lost... View Details

Keywords: Risk and Uncertainty; Partners and Partnerships; Investment; Globalized Markets and Industries; Manufacturing Industry; Air Transportation Industry