Flying the Flag : European Commercial Air Transport Since 1945

Since the end of World War II, European airlines have revealed their own operational style. By analyzing seven European flag-carriers, Dienel and Lyth provide a comparative study of the airline business, covering government policy, aircraft procurement, network growth, commercial performance and collaboration with other airlines and transport modes. This study also seeks to explain why national flag-carriers have survived in an age of globalization and strategic alliances. A concluding chapter views the contrasting American air transport industry. "This book offers the first comprehensive history of European air transport since the Second World War. Bringing together the expertise of both European and American writers, it provides a detailed analysis of how Europe's leading flag-carriers have developed over the last fifty years. The book's main strength lies in its comparative approach. While separate chapters are devoted to the histories of Air France, British Airways, Lufthansa, KLM, Alitalia and LOT, the common methodology ensures a broad measure of comparability so that the reader can follow in systematic fashion the evolution of European civil aviation."--BOOK JACKET American and European contributors look at the distinguishing features of the main European national flag-carrier airlines and their development from the end of World War II to the current flurry of deregulation and strategic alliances, and most particularly look at the significant divergence from the US experience. They analyze Air France, British Airways, Lufhansa, Dutch KLM, Alitalia, and Polish LOT. Among their concerns are business organization and performance, aircraft procurement, network growth, airport construction, and recent moves toward deregulation. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or. Since the end of World War II, European airlines have revealed their own operational style. By analyzing seven European flag carriers, Dienel and Lyth provide a comparative study of the airline business, covering government policy, aircraft procurement, network growth, commercial performance and collaboration with other airlines and transport modes. This study also seeks to explain why national flag carriers have survived in an age of globalization and strategic alliances. A concluding chapter views the contrasting American air transport industry Front Matter....Pages i-xii Introduction....Pages 1-17 Air France: an Elephant in an Evening Suit?....Pages 18-49 Chosen Instruments: the Evolution of British Airways....Pages 50-86 Lufthansa: Two German Airlines....Pages 87-125 KLM: an Airline Outgrowing its Flag....Pages 126-158 Alitalia and Commercial Aviation in Italy....Pages 159-194 LOT: Connecting East and West in Poland....Pages 195-222 Airlines, Entrepreneurs and Bureaucrats: the American Experience....Pages 223-252 Back Matter....Pages 253-267