Publications

20 Feb 2014
News

Managing the World’s Trouble Spots

their health and education programs. Goodwin’s days as a global citizen began in the air force. In his early years as a second lieutenant, during the mid-1990s, he worked in foreign military sales in Saudi Arabia, then in Colombia setting... View Details

Keywords: Jill Radsken

01 Mar 2011
News

James McNerney Jr.

McNerney: It’s all about being globally competitive and creating U.S. jobs. Illustration by Andy Friedman Related Links The Path to Economic Revival Making Their Way Squawk Box at HBS - Jim McNerney, Dean Nitin Nohria, and University Professor Michael Porter discuss... View Details

Keywords: Julia Hanna; interview; Transportation Equipment Manufacturing; Transportation Equipment Manufacturing; Transportation Equipment Manufacturing; Transportation Equipment Manufacturing

01 Dec 2007
News

Mead Treadwell

the Arctic. There are multibillion-dollar mineral reserves — copper, zinc, gold, diamonds, lead — as well. Most people don’t know that FedEx and UPS have very large hubs in Alaska and that most of the world’s international air cargo now... View Details

Keywords: Garry Emmons; Transportation; Transportation; Transportation; Transportation; Transportation

June 2020
Supplement

TransDigm in 2017: Congressional Hearing on the DoD Inspector General’s Report (5/15/19)

By: Benjamin C. Esty

This video accompanies the case, “TransDigm in 2017: The Beginning of the End or the End of the Beginning?” View Details

July 2003 (Revised April 2011)
Case

Singapore Airlines: Customer Service Innovation

By: Rohit Deshpande and Hal Hogan

The members of Singapore Airlines' (SIA) management committee needs to decide whether to cancel the implementation of the new lie-flat seats in business class after the effects of the global recession on the travel industry in September 2001. SIA was considered the... View Details

Keywords: Customer Focus and Relationships; Economic Slowdown and Stagnation; Management Teams; Brands and Branding; Air Transportation Industry; Air Transportation Industry; Singapore

30 Jan 2019
What Do You Think?

Who Will Measure up to These Two Remarkable Leaders?

Summing Up: Which Schools Will Produce the Next Generation of Transformative Leaders? This month’s column featured two leaders who were able to build organizations that literally transformed the mutual fund and airline industries. In the process they created a cadre of... View Details

Keywords: by James Heskett; Air Transportation; Air Transportation

August 2016 (Revised July 2017)
Case

Singapore Airlines: Premium Goes Multi-Brand

By: Rohit Deshpande and Dawn H. Lau

Singapore Airlines had long been considered the gold standard for its innovative customer service. However, the company was faced with new sources of competition, from the rapid growth of Southeast Asian low-cost carriers on the one hand, to the expansion of premium... View Details

Keywords: Customer Focus and Relationships; Economic Slowdown and Stagnation; Management Teams; Brands and Branding; Air Transportation Industry; Air Transportation Industry; Singapore

March 2009
Teaching Note

Fritidsresor Under Pressure (TN) (A), (B), (C)

By: Joshua D. Margolis

Teaching Note for [407007, 407008 and 407009]. View Details

Keywords: Problems and Challenges; Air Transportation Industry; Air Transportation Industry

January 2009 (Revised June 2009)
Case

Distribution at American Airlines (A)

By: Benjamin Edelman

American Airlines sought to reduce the fees it pays to global distribution services (GDSs)—such as SABRE—to reach travel agents. But GDSs held significant tactical advantages. For example, GDSs had signed long-term exclusive contracts with the corporate customers who... View Details

Keywords: Price; Globalized Firms and Management; Governing Rules, Regulations, and Reforms; Distribution; Service Operations; Competition; Air Transportation Industry; Air Transportation Industry

July 1999 (Revised November 1999)
Case

Northwest Airlines and the Detroit Snowstorm (A)

Northwest Airlines forced hundreds of passengers to wait up to 8 1/2 hours on aircraft after reaching their destination in an unusually horrible service disaster. The case explores what occurred, why it occurred, and the feelings of those involved. View Details

Keywords: Service Delivery; Failure; Air Transportation Industry; Air Transportation Industry

November 1978 (Revised June 1982)
Case

Federal Express (B)

Federal Express is a small-package airline operating throughout the United States. After initial heavy losses, it is now profitable. Management is examining the services offered by the firm and believes that there is great potential for "Courier Pak," an overnight... View Details

Keywords: Product; Product Marketing; Air Transportation Industry; Air Transportation Industry; United States

13 Jan 2021
News

Stress Test

available—even before the pandemic. That got even tighter this year and when you add the holiday season and the vaccine, it’s a three-layer cake of nasty. The one silver lining is that air passenger travel is way down and some of those... View Details

28 Apr 2022
Blog Post

Climate Stories Episode #4: Erika Myers, World Resources Institute Ross Center for Sustainable Cities

thrilling as that news is, huge challenges remain to make a meaningful dent in the transportation sector’s CO2 emissions. "I have cut the cord with gas guzzlers. I have two electric vehicles!"– Erika MyersErika Myers’ professional glass... View Details

July 2014 (Revised November 2015)
Case

American Airlines in 2011

By: Willy Shih

The American Airlines in 2011 case was developed to provide a setting for the comparative analysis of two very different business models in the U.S. domestic airline industry—the network carrier and the low cost carrier (LCC). These models offer very different value... View Details

Keywords: American Airlines; Network Carrier; Low-cost Carrier; LCC; Business Model; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Competition; Competitive Strategy; Disruption; Transportation Industry; Transportation Industry; Transportation Industry; United States

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; Air Transportation Industry; Air Transportation Industry

June 2020
Supplement

TransDigm: The Acquisition of Aerosonic Corp.

By: Benjamin C. Esty and Daniel W. Fisher

This courseware accompanies the case "TransDigm: The Acquisition of Aerosonic Corp." View Details

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Growth Management; Business Strategy; Competitive Strategy; Value Creation; Valuation; Negotiation; Cash Flow; Contracts; Air Transportation Industry; Air Transportation Industry; United States

November 20, 2023
Article

How Ben Minicucci Piloted Alaska Airlines Through the Pandemic

By: Ranjay Gulati

Keywords: Leadership; Health Pandemics; Crisis Management; Air Transportation Industry; Air Transportation Industry

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September 2020
Teaching Note

TransDigm in 2017: The Beginning of the End or the End of the Beginning?

By: Benjamin C. Esty and Daniel Fisher

Teaching Note for HBS Case No. 720-422. TransDigm was a highly acquisitive company that manufactured a wide range of highly engineered aerospace parts for both military and commercial customers. Over the ten years ending in 2016, its stock price had increase ten times,... View Details