Comapring Porters 5 Forces for the Airline Industry
Assignment # 1
Strategic Practice Exercise: (page #81)
1. Score each competitive force in the airline industry and provide a brief rationale for your assessment.
· Rivalry Among Existing Firms: (High)
When one major company in an industry makes a change in costs or services that could potentially increase their clientele, a major competitor almost always follows suit. Price matching is a prime example of that, therefore the threat is high. West Jet is one company that offers flights at a discount and forced Air Canada to create new banners to compete with the discounted prices. All major companies and firms in an industry watch each other’s every move very carefully, and match any move with a countermove. During slow season in the airline industry, a firm can only grow by taking some of another competitor’s market share and customers. When someone has to book a flight, they have to book a flight. Most people these days use the internet to book flights and compare services and prices from rival firms with relative ease. Accessibility and price are the key factors in driving rivalries. The deregulation of the Canadian airline industry in 1984 created a very intense rivalry between two of the biggest airline companies in Canada; namely, Canadian Airlines and Air Canada. Canadian Airlines built its strength in the industry by making a few key acquisitions of companies in Western Canada. Air Canada recently became a publicly traded corporate entity, building capital through public offering. When these two powerhouse companies created a difficult situation, such as the offering of less expensive options and discount flights, they both lost revenue and nearly crippled them financially.
· Relative Power of Other Stakeholders: (High)
Other stakeholders such as governments have a relatively large amount of power over most national airlines in Canada, because they are partially owned by them. Taxes on flights out of Pearson International Airport are some of the highest in
Strategic Practice Exercise: (page #81)
1. Score each competitive force in the airline industry and provide a brief rationale for your assessment.
· Rivalry Among Existing Firms: (High)
When one major company in an industry makes a change in costs or services that could potentially increase their clientele, a major competitor almost always follows suit. Price matching is a prime example of that, therefore the threat is high. West Jet is one company that offers flights at a discount and forced Air Canada to create new banners to compete with the discounted prices. All major companies and firms in an industry watch each other’s every move very carefully, and match any move with a countermove. During slow season in the airline industry, a firm can only grow by taking some of another competitor’s market share and customers. When someone has to book a flight, they have to book a flight. Most people these days use the internet to book flights and compare services and prices from rival firms with relative ease. Accessibility and price are the key factors in driving rivalries. The deregulation of the Canadian airline industry in 1984 created a very intense rivalry between two of the biggest airline companies in Canada; namely, Canadian Airlines and Air Canada. Canadian Airlines built its strength in the industry by making a few key acquisitions of companies in Western Canada. Air Canada recently became a publicly traded corporate entity, building capital through public offering. When these two powerhouse companies created a difficult situation, such as the offering of less expensive options and discount flights, they both lost revenue and nearly crippled them financially.
· Relative Power of Other Stakeholders: (High)
Other stakeholders such as governments have a relatively large amount of power over most national airlines in Canada, because they are partially owned by them. Taxes on flights out of Pearson International Airport are some of the highest in