URL study guide

https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/E_TSCM_AIRB

Course Objective

The aviation sector is a popular topic in the media. Airport noise, airport expansion, airport privatization, airline alliances, airline bankruptcies, new aircraft design etc. etc. frequently are the topic of heated debate. This course looks at recent developments in the airline industry from a scientific perspective. By the end of this course, the student can explain recent developments in the airline industry using basic economic knowledge. The students will demonstrate this by discussing relevant academic papers. Furthermore, the students will perform empirical analysis on economic benefits of aviation and write a policy paper on a current issue in the sector. During the final examination students can show they can apply insights from the literature to answer theoretical questions and questions relating to current policy.

Course Content

Why did you pay more (or less) for your ticket than the person sitting next to you in the aircraft. Why do KLM and easyJet have different network types? How does competition from Emirates influence KLM and Schiphol? Why should we (or shouldn't we) open a secondary airport? Should we downsize Schiphol? By the end of this course, the student can answer such questions, and explain recent developments in the airline industry using basic economic knowledge on pricing, cost structures, and network design. Furthermore, the insights can be used to explain developments in other transportation sectors as well. Airline pricing, airline cost and network design are three important aspects that will be discussed throughout the course. The lectures specifically deal with the following topics:
- Airline markets
- Airline pricing
- Airline output and market structure
- Airline cost
- Network design
- Network competition
- Network management
- Revenue management
- Aviation policy

Teaching Methods


- lectures
- assignments. The topics for the assignments are based on current policy problems. For one assignment, students perform empirical analysis on the economic benefits of aviation. For another assignment, students write a short policy paper and pitch this paper in a meeting.

Method of Assessment

Paper, presentation, written examination

Literature

A selection of articles will be announced in the study guide; lectureslides.

Entry Requirements

'Transport Economics and Management (TSCM)' or "Transport Economics (STREEM)' is highly recommended. Students that did not follow these courses, or any other course on transport economics, have to contact the coordinators in advance.
Academic year1/09/2431/08/25
Course level6.00 EC

Language of Tuition

  • English

Study type

  • Master