Decisive criteria for strategic management in the air transport sector

Abstract

This paper analyses the strategy formation, with the focus on the criteria that may be considered decisive for passenger companies in the air transport sector. The methodology followed in this study starts with a review of the literature, followed by an empirical research based on two methods: an inquiry addressed to the employees of the airlines operating in Portugal and interviews conducted to top managers of different types of airlines operating in Portugal. The main conclusions are that 50 % of the survey respondents and 100 % of interviewees report that the economic environment is the factor with largest influence on strategy formulation. 87 % of the top managers consider that the success of a strategy also depends on the resistance of the employees to new strategies. Another major point for the success of the strategy implementation is the involvement of employees at all stages of the process. This research is very important to the air transport sector, since the results reached can improve its strategy, due to the relevance given to employees, their alignment with strategic positions and the communication process in the implementation of the strategy.