A NETWORK-BASED INVESTIGATION OF THE OPTIONS FOR REVIVING AIR CARGO ALLIANCES

摘要

In anticipation of the next trade upturn in the economy, this paper focuses on acargo airline’s options for forming a strategic alliance with other scheduled carriers. We seekto examine these options using a network-based investigation method in the context of theDLR air cargo model, currently under development.The paper is organized as follows: The theoretical section reviews the relatively short historyof freight alliances among airlines, discussing both the formation and decay of this type ofcooperation. The second part of our paper presents a conceptual framework for data-drivenanalyses, including a timetable, capacity determination, and O&D service level evaluation fordifferent hypothetical “alliance matching scenarios” - in contrast to go-it-alone strategies.Preliminary computation results for the Top 20 league demonstrate how joint operations -below the threshold of a merger - may be preceded by the implementation of a network model,thus supporting the decision-making process by delineating the possible outcomes in terms ofmarket coverage and cost levels.