Innovation in Commoditized Service Industries: An Empirical Case Study Analysis in the Passenger Airline Industry (Aviation Management)

The passenger airline industry is a prominent service industry that is becoming increasingly commoditized. As little empirical work in this field exists, this study contributes to research by exploring how passenger airlines leverage innovation in such market conditions from a strategic and organizational view. Comprehensive case studies of a sample of eight passenger airlines constitute the empirical basis. The analysis detects patterns of innovations and draws conclusions on the strategic innovation behavior in the airline industry. The study proposes an organizational concept and a strategic approach for airlines to innovate in an increasingly commoditized market.