Transforming Airlines: A Flight Plan for Navigating Structural Changes

This book provides a flight plan for riding the impending connectivity transformation curve. It takes the perspective of actionability, highlighting initiatives that executives in airline and related businesses can use from the insights of multi-industry executives. The emphasis is on execution, not on the concepts themselves.

There is a cluster of at least four distinct megatrends that may converge to form disruptive conditions: (1) elevated expectations of existing and new customer segmentations, those who expect available and accessible air mass transportation systems, and those who expect connected services and seamless travel on different modes of transportation; (2) new emerging technology, incorporated in the air and ground vehicles, that will create new opportunities for existing and new service providers to offer new value propositions; (3) platforms, developed around the ecosystem of customers; and (4) the impact on travel that the fast-changing demographic and economic characteristics of two major countries, India and China. These megatrends could lead existing or new businesses to create value propositions specifically dedicated to the new segments once each reaches a critical mass. Drawing on the author's own experience in the airline industry and related businesses, this book discusses the "how", relating to reimagining the business, re-entrepreneuring the organization, innovating through partnerships, reengaging with customers and employees, and rebranding the business in response to these trends.

This book is recommended reading for all senior-level practitioners of airlines and related businesses worldwide.

Nawal K. Taneja has five decades of experience in the airline industry, and is a published author. He is currently Executive-in-Residence at Fisher College of Business, The Ohio State University, US