Competition versus Predation in Aviation Markets

Chapter 13Investigating Airline Managers’ Perception of Route Entry Barriers: A Questionnaire-Based Approach

Mirko C.A. Schnell

1. Route Entry Barriers and Deregulation

In the following paper a recently completed research project applying a new investigative approach to the area of route entry barriers in airline markets will be presented. The main research question under consideration was: 'How do airline managers perceive barriers to route entry?' Taking into account that only perceived entry barriers will prevent actual entry, managers and analysts need to know which economic agent notices which entry difficulties and to what extent these obstacles deter entry in practice. Hence, the present research aims at shedding further light on the issue ...