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Global Airlines: Competition in a transnational industry (second edition), Pat Hanlon, Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford (1999) 295 pp., ISBN 0-7506-435-1 £21.99
78
Book Reviews / Journal of Transport Geography 8 (2000) 77±79
important point here is that the book has been published in English at all. The book ends with a useful synthesis of the key points raised by authors throughout the chapters and this allows a straightforward comparison between the various methods of rail privatisation and their initial outcomes (the chapter points to ``a few tentative observations''). Again, van de Velde stresses that his aim was not to push a given policy position but instead to provide information which others may use to do so. He also rightly adds the comment that it is probably too early to ``measure the full impact of the legal, regulatory and organisational changes, especially where reforms have been implemented in the past few years'' as the railway industry is a long-term business. Although the need for rail policy re-evaluation is now becoming apparent in Great Britain (particularly with regard to competition and safety matters), in international terms,
van de VeldeÕs position is valid because not all countries included in the book implemented their reforms as long ago as the British did. Nevertheless, policymakers around the world will more than likely have to re-evaluate their rail strategies sooner or later and van de VeldeÕs book will provide some useful background material to assist them (or at least those whose rail networks are similar in character to the ones discussed in this volume). Indeed, books such as van de VeldeÕs are important precisely for that reason. Although they do not seek to advance an original analysis, they make such a task easier for others by providing some of the information needed to accomplish it. J. Shaw Department of Geography, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
0966-6923/00/$ - see front matter Ó 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. PII: S 0 9 6 6 - 6 9 2 3 ( 9 9 ) 0 0 0 3 6 - 8
Global Airlines: Competition in a transnational industry (second edition), Pat Hanlon, Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford (1999) 295 pp., ISBN 0-7506-435-1 £21.99 That Pat Hanlon has completed such a through overhaul of his key text just three years after the ®rst edition appeared is testament to the dynamic condition of the airline industry. The pace of change is especially evident in the sphere of airline business organisation and management that is the core territory of ÔGlobal AirlinesÕ. The book opens with a very useful overview of the airline industry, covering the growth of air trac, demand and basic ®nancial issues. This section is especially well supported by a varied set of diagrams and tables. Chapter three provides a substantial grounding on competition and regulatory themes. Besides an exploration of the theory and experience of deregulation, there is detailed coverage here of loyalty schemes (e.g. frequent ¯ier programmes) and airline computer reservation systems. The following two chapters give the book its most recognisably ÔgeographicalÕ content, in the sense that they have much to say on the evolving pattern of international air services. ÔRoute networksÕ examines network patterns, trac right ÔfreedomsÕ and the regional airlines (this last section is one of the few in the book that seems relatively super®cial). The chapter also oers a rather tantalisingly brief section entitled Ôaccidents of geographyÕ (!), which refers to the locational advantages enjoyed by points such as Singapore and Atlanta, in terms of route networks. However, the airline business
perspective on network development is stronger, covering such topics as franchising and code sharing. Chapter ®ve has a more distinct focus in its concern with Ôscheduling through hubsÕ; the principles and implications of airline hubbing are explored very thoroughly, supported by plentiful and illustrative detail. This chapter is also used to review aspects of airport capacity shortage. The ®nal third of ÔGlobal airlinesÕ is devoted very centrally to airline business behaviour and organisation, with emphasis on aspects of competetion. Chapter six explores yield management, discrimination in the pricing of airfares, and also oers a very detailed look at the often controversial and legally contested Ôpredatory behaviourÕ used by airlines to increase market share. Chapter seven tackles the fast-evolving pattern of airline mergers and alliances; this part of the book exempli®es HanlonÕs admirable endeavour to provide as current a picture as possible. While the speed of change renders this a near-impossible task in terms of detail, there is much useful background in terms of the principles and issues underlying the emergence of global airline alliances, while key groupings such as the Star Alliance and oneworld are covered. The book closes with a succinct review of some key issues arising in a world of Ôtransnational airlinesÕ, notably the extent to which new ÔglobalÕ regulatory mechanisms should be put in place as airlines lose their distinct national identities. ÔGlobal AirlinesÕ is partly ``addressed to policymakers'', including those working directly in the airline industry. Besides this orientation to an expert non-aca-
Book Reviews / Journal of Transport Geography 8 (2000) 77±79
demic readership, the text is also written for students, who are provided with a thorough insight into the principles of airline management per se, and are also shown how the airline industry illustrates such wider themes as competition and degradation. Hanlon meets this hybrid purpose very eectively; he combines clear, accessible structure and explanation with a high level of authority in terms of key trends and policy issue as well current illustrative detail. The text is very liberally supplied with an excellent variety of diagrams, tables, and maps. In terms of the overall Ôfeel of the book, the ÔdensityÕ of some of the more specialised and detailed sections is well leavened by this copious ÔgraphicalÕ content, as well as by excellent, clear headings and sub-headings. There is also a strong bibliography, a decent index and short Ôrecommendations for further readingÕ.
79
This revised edition of ÔGlobal AirlinesÕ is an important and authoritative text that is of considerable use to transport geographers seeking to keep abreast of the international airline industry, as well as to its target readership of students and those employed in air transport. The title and the cover, with its Delta Airlines Boeing about to touch down, might seduce the bookshop browser into expecting a compendium of airline ¯eets, routes and technical details! While this market would certainly be disappointed, the subtitle Ôcompetition in a global industryÕ clari®es the bookÕs true purpose and direction, with has been achieved with great success.
0966-6923/00/$ - see front matter Ó 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. PII: S 0 9 6 6 - 6 9 2 3 ( 9 9 ) 0 0 0 4 2 - 3
Clive Charlton Departmental of Geographical Sciences, University of Plymouth
Book Reviews / Journal of Transport Geography 8 (2000) 77±79
important point here is that the book has been published in English at all. The book ends with a useful synthesis of the key points raised by authors throughout the chapters and this allows a straightforward comparison between the various methods of rail privatisation and their initial outcomes (the chapter points to ``a few tentative observations''). Again, van de Velde stresses that his aim was not to push a given policy position but instead to provide information which others may use to do so. He also rightly adds the comment that it is probably too early to ``measure the full impact of the legal, regulatory and organisational changes, especially where reforms have been implemented in the past few years'' as the railway industry is a long-term business. Although the need for rail policy re-evaluation is now becoming apparent in Great Britain (particularly with regard to competition and safety matters), in international terms,
van de VeldeÕs position is valid because not all countries included in the book implemented their reforms as long ago as the British did. Nevertheless, policymakers around the world will more than likely have to re-evaluate their rail strategies sooner or later and van de VeldeÕs book will provide some useful background material to assist them (or at least those whose rail networks are similar in character to the ones discussed in this volume). Indeed, books such as van de VeldeÕs are important precisely for that reason. Although they do not seek to advance an original analysis, they make such a task easier for others by providing some of the information needed to accomplish it. J. Shaw Department of Geography, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
0966-6923/00/$ - see front matter Ó 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. PII: S 0 9 6 6 - 6 9 2 3 ( 9 9 ) 0 0 0 3 6 - 8
Global Airlines: Competition in a transnational industry (second edition), Pat Hanlon, Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford (1999) 295 pp., ISBN 0-7506-435-1 £21.99 That Pat Hanlon has completed such a through overhaul of his key text just three years after the ®rst edition appeared is testament to the dynamic condition of the airline industry. The pace of change is especially evident in the sphere of airline business organisation and management that is the core territory of ÔGlobal AirlinesÕ. The book opens with a very useful overview of the airline industry, covering the growth of air trac, demand and basic ®nancial issues. This section is especially well supported by a varied set of diagrams and tables. Chapter three provides a substantial grounding on competition and regulatory themes. Besides an exploration of the theory and experience of deregulation, there is detailed coverage here of loyalty schemes (e.g. frequent ¯ier programmes) and airline computer reservation systems. The following two chapters give the book its most recognisably ÔgeographicalÕ content, in the sense that they have much to say on the evolving pattern of international air services. ÔRoute networksÕ examines network patterns, trac right ÔfreedomsÕ and the regional airlines (this last section is one of the few in the book that seems relatively super®cial). The chapter also oers a rather tantalisingly brief section entitled Ôaccidents of geographyÕ (!), which refers to the locational advantages enjoyed by points such as Singapore and Atlanta, in terms of route networks. However, the airline business
perspective on network development is stronger, covering such topics as franchising and code sharing. Chapter ®ve has a more distinct focus in its concern with Ôscheduling through hubsÕ; the principles and implications of airline hubbing are explored very thoroughly, supported by plentiful and illustrative detail. This chapter is also used to review aspects of airport capacity shortage. The ®nal third of ÔGlobal airlinesÕ is devoted very centrally to airline business behaviour and organisation, with emphasis on aspects of competetion. Chapter six explores yield management, discrimination in the pricing of airfares, and also oers a very detailed look at the often controversial and legally contested Ôpredatory behaviourÕ used by airlines to increase market share. Chapter seven tackles the fast-evolving pattern of airline mergers and alliances; this part of the book exempli®es HanlonÕs admirable endeavour to provide as current a picture as possible. While the speed of change renders this a near-impossible task in terms of detail, there is much useful background in terms of the principles and issues underlying the emergence of global airline alliances, while key groupings such as the Star Alliance and oneworld are covered. The book closes with a succinct review of some key issues arising in a world of Ôtransnational airlinesÕ, notably the extent to which new ÔglobalÕ regulatory mechanisms should be put in place as airlines lose their distinct national identities. ÔGlobal AirlinesÕ is partly ``addressed to policymakers'', including those working directly in the airline industry. Besides this orientation to an expert non-aca-
Book Reviews / Journal of Transport Geography 8 (2000) 77±79
demic readership, the text is also written for students, who are provided with a thorough insight into the principles of airline management per se, and are also shown how the airline industry illustrates such wider themes as competition and degradation. Hanlon meets this hybrid purpose very eectively; he combines clear, accessible structure and explanation with a high level of authority in terms of key trends and policy issue as well current illustrative detail. The text is very liberally supplied with an excellent variety of diagrams, tables, and maps. In terms of the overall Ôfeel of the book, the ÔdensityÕ of some of the more specialised and detailed sections is well leavened by this copious ÔgraphicalÕ content, as well as by excellent, clear headings and sub-headings. There is also a strong bibliography, a decent index and short Ôrecommendations for further readingÕ.
79
This revised edition of ÔGlobal AirlinesÕ is an important and authoritative text that is of considerable use to transport geographers seeking to keep abreast of the international airline industry, as well as to its target readership of students and those employed in air transport. The title and the cover, with its Delta Airlines Boeing about to touch down, might seduce the bookshop browser into expecting a compendium of airline ¯eets, routes and technical details! While this market would certainly be disappointed, the subtitle Ôcompetition in a global industryÕ clari®es the bookÕs true purpose and direction, with has been achieved with great success.
0966-6923/00/$ - see front matter Ó 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. PII: S 0 9 6 6 - 6 9 2 3 ( 9 9 ) 0 0 0 4 2 - 3
Clive Charlton Departmental of Geographical Sciences, University of Plymouth