Case Studies: Transporation
XOJET
Jordan S. Esten T’12, M. Eric Johnson, Joseph M. Hall
Length: 17 Pages
Publication date: 2013
Case#: 6-0036
Blair LaCorte T90 glanced out the window as his Virgin American flight approached San Francisco International Airport, and thought about the challenges facing XOJET and the private aviation industry as a whole. With demand up 50% YOY they needed every jet they owned. It was October, 2011, and LaCorte had been CEO of XOJET for two years, during which time his team had grappled with difficulties both short and long term that faced the private aviation industry. Their analysis had determined that the industry wasn’t just in a cyclical downturn, but faced structural challenges that would require XOJET to alter its strategy.
Topics: Operations, Strategy
Industry: Transporation
Request Teaching Note (if available), for professors only | Order a Copy of this Case Study
Enhancing Service at Southwest Airlines
M. Eric Johnson
Length: 14 pages
Publication date: 2009
Case#: 6-0031
Scarcely five years at the helm of Southwest Airlines, CEO Gary Kelly was navigating the high-flying airline through the downturn of 2009. By focusing on simplicity and keeping costs low, Southwest had posted profits in every year for over three decades and had grown to be the fifth largest U.S. carrier. Kelly was faced with maintaining those low costs while readying the airline for growth when passengers returned. Looking to enhance its value proposition, he was considering a number of service refinements including satellite- based WiFi Internet, more extensive wine and coffee service, and even new international alliances with foreign carriers. In each case, the offering would be scrutinized to see if it fit within the Southwest strategy and its legendary operating model.
Preview copy in PDF format (701K)
"Reframing Your Business Equation," Strategy + Business, 2009
Enhancing Service at Southwest Case (in Mandarin)
Topics: Services
Industry: Transporation
Request Teaching Note (if available), for professors only | Order a Copy of this Case Study