• Journal of the Korean Society for Aviation and Aeronautics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.101-110
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• 2017

This research identifies the relation between the quality of cabin service(personnel and material services) in Korean low-cost airlines and resulting customer satisfaction and loyalty. Its aim is to provide low-cost airlines' international flights with basic information when building strategies, and to suggest a strategic implication for an original and competitive cabin service policy that can enhance customer retention. As a result of the analysis, first, hypothesis 1 on relation between the quality of Korean low-cost airlines' cabin service and customer satisfaction was all valid. Moreover, it was coherent with the results of previous researches. Second, hypothesis 2 on relation between the quality of Korean low-cost airlines' cabin service and customer satisfaction was also valid and coherent with previous studies. Third, hypothesis 3 on relation between customer satisfaction and loyalty was valid and coherent with existing studies. Consequently, this research suggests that in order to achieve the continuous retention of loyal customers through customer satisfaction, the quality of personnel and material service has to be considered primarily. In addition to that, this research also suggests that the original and competitive service marketing of low-cost airline is necessary for an airline to continue its profit-making.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.12 no.10
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• pp.123-128
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• 2014

Purpose - The purpose of the study is to reexamine the price fairness as practiced by low cost airlines, as a consumer has to experience such inconveniences as inferior airport transportation, extra fees on in-flight meals, and non-negotiable seats, and consumers evaluate such experiences keeping in mind their total costs. This evaluation includes price fairness and allows a reasonable and overall consideration of factors of low cost airlines. It tries to set up a measurement of the indicators consumers' perceptions of price fairness academically as it adapts price fairness to airline services which are renowned for price volatility. Research design, data, and methodology - The research proposes an alternative pricing strategy for the long term profit of low cost airlines after going over conflicts between the traditional theory of consumers' price perception mechanism and flexible fair policy of low cost airlines. It was meaningful when it relates to the early stage of the business, while it enhances the risks relating to the long term survival of low cost airlines. In addition, it is significant as it highlights the negative influences on consumers' perceptions of price fairness, as low cost airlines run on extremely low cost perspectives. Results - The results of the research provide insight into four perspectives, as consumers' perceptions of price fairness are influenced by the frequency and range of price changes and services. The first perspective is that it would lead to positive price evaluation when a low cost airline cuts prices frequently with little changes than one big change. It also would lead to the same result when it comes to necessary services. The second perspective is that one big increase of price would rather undermine the negative aspects of price changes than those of several smaller ones. The third perspective is that additional services would be good to consumers' perceptions of price fairness as compared to discount benefits with respect to the cost. Finally, a low cost airline should consider that consumers will change airlines or defer their flight schedule if the flight fares increase beyond their limits. Conclusions - Low cost airlines should reconsider their pricing policies for services that were provided free earlier. A consumer would not like discount benefits when made to pay for services that were, for long, free of charge. If a low cost airline can provide services with no charge, it should improve volumes if the costs are standardized and, moreover, should consider the charging fees. Alternatively, a consumer can choose between services and fair discount. Low cost airlines are implementing sales promotion strategies, as the competition is more intense than it used to be. In these days, they should regard services over sales promotion, as consumers may prefer to spend money on good premium services. Some differentiation in services could create a good market position for the airlines and, hence, good financial performance.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.11 no.12
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• pp.39-49
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• 2013

Purpose - This study attempts to examine the underlying dimensions of service quality (tangibility, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy) for low-cost carriers. It subsequently seeks to determine the effect of the relationships of the dimensions of service quality, airline image, and behavioral intentions on airline services to provide adequate basic information and attributes for developing differentiated and competitive service marketing strategies. Research design, data, and methodology - The survey for this study was conducted on patrons with low-cost carrier boarding experiences in districts near universities and central businesses of Seoul and Busan from 5/10/2012 to 16/10/2012. Out of 346 questionnaires, 20 questionnaires with missing data and insincere answers were excluded for this study. Collected data were processed using SPSS 18.0, and the hypothesis was verified by analyzing the structural equation model with Lisrel 8.54. First, the frequency analysis was conducted to identify universal characteristics. Second, the exploratory factor analysis and reliability analysis were conducted to identify the accuracy of the variable measurements of the construct. Third, to assess uni-dimensionality and reliability, confirmatory factor analysis was conducted. Finally, to verify the adequacy of the research model and research hypothesis, the structural model was employed. Results - The results revealed that the factors, "tangibility, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy" were shown to be the most important dimensions of service quality for the airline image of the low-cost carrier which was consistent with previous studies. Therefore, it is fair to suggest that these verified factors are crucial attributes for the brand image of low-cost carriers. Second, as reliability and responsiveness were shown to be the most important factors for behavioral intentions, it is viable to suggest that these two attributes are crucial for the sales value of low-cost carriers. Further, it was found that the brand image of low-cost carriers was closely related to behavioral intentions. Therefore, in order to ensure the competitiveness and loyalty of patrons, the airline image value is a crucial attribute. Conclusions - The result of this study established that service quality is the most important attribute for marketing to ensure competitiveness, and intensive and differentiated service marketing play a crucial role in creating profits for low-cost carrier companies. First, as tangibility is found to be the most crucial factor in ensuring service quality, quality control and maintenance of medium and small carriers must be provided to ensure reliability, as they are the main attributes of low-cost carriers. Second, in order to promote positive behavioral intentions, it is essential to enhance the value of airline image. Third, in order to ensure competitiveness, it is imperative to carry out intensive and differentiated service marketing. Therefore, to promote the image of low-cost carriers and enhance behavioral intentions, the level of service quality must be secured by developing appropriate service improvement programs.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.21-33
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• 2023

Purpose: To study, analyze, and investigate how to improve the service quality distribution and perceived value of passenger loyalty in low-cost airlines in Thailand. Research Design, data, and methodology: The data was collected from low-cost airline passengers who had used low-cost airlines within Thailand more than twice in the last 12 months. In total, 632 questionnaires were received, representing 97.32%, and in-depth interviews were done using the semi-structured technique. The key informants were either executives or representatives from 4 low-cost airlines operating in Thailand. We utilized structural modeling techniques to examine the data relevant to the investigation. Results: The results show that low-cost airline passengers in Thailand have strong opinions about the perceived value of the passenger loyalty of low-cost airlines within this sector of the Thai air travel industry. The variables were sorted in order of importance and included passenger loyalty, satisfaction, trust, perceived value, and service quality distribution. The relationship between the service quality distribution variables and the significance in relation to passenger loyalty according to low-cost airlines in Thailand showed that service quality distribution had a positive effect on perceived value and that passenger satisfaction has a direct positive effect on passenger loyalty. Conclusions: The 8 QPSTL strategy is successful in terms of service quality distribution and passenger satisfaction, therefore it is an important aspect of low-cost airlines in Thailand.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.436-444
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• 2018

The purpose of this research is to assess the efficiency of the airline's route. The revenue source of low cost airline carriers is not various unlike regular airline carriers, because they are operating only domestic and international flights for a country of close proximity. In particular, domestic low-cost airlines in Korea can't provide cargo transport services but rely on passengers and additional services to generate profits. Therefore, it is absolutely important to maintain a low cost and effective passenger transport line. This study will suggest the way to improve efficiency of route operated by low-cost airlines. Analysis method is DEA. The input parameters and output results were selected by existing research. Based on the results of this study, it will be able to assist establishing routes and selling strategies of the low-cost airlines.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.49-67
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• 2015

The study aims to review airline services like the domestic line performance, the general flight fares and website discount fairs, reservation cancellation and cancellation charges, reroutings and personal discount system of the low cost carriers(LCC), and suggest what needs to be done to improve the airline service. The improvements to be made by the LCC should include increasing regular domestic lines, providing information compared for consumers, relieving the toll to call the service center, revising the conditions on reservation cancellation penalty, rerouting charges, revising the consumer dispute resolution standards, and promoting frequent fliers program. Development strategies should be established that can boost consumer benefits through the improvement of the airline services.

• Journal of Information Technology Services
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1-16
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• 2018

There exist a number of studies pertaining to the determinants of customer satisfaction between low-cost and full-service carriers in the airline industry. Most studies measured service quality using SERVQUAL based on a survey method. This study offers a new perspective by employing a big data analytic approach using SNS data, which reflects the immediate response of customers as well as trends in real time. This study chose eight factors from TripAdvisor's customer review site as determinants of customer satisfaction and compared the differences between low-cost and full-service airlines. The factors analyzed were seat comfort, customer service, cleanliness, food and beverage, legroom, entertainment, value for money, and check-in and boarding. Additionally, ratings from domestic and foreign customers were compared. The findings show that customer service and value for money are significant factors in satisfaction with low-cost airlines while all variables except legroom and entertainment are significant for full-service airlines. The results show that SNS-based data and analysis of big data are important for improving decision-making effectiveness and increasing customer satisfaction in the airline industry.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aviation and Aeronautics
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.53-63
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• 2007

This paper examines the safety perception of passengers on low cost carriers which has made several accidents and incidents at the early stage of their business. The concept of low cost carrier is becoming more important to airline industry in Korea. This study achieves the first selecting attribute among airline service factors on domestic flights and try to indicate that how much the passengers trust in the safety of low cost carriers. It is also sets the comparative safety awareness between low cost carriers and two full service national carriers in domestic market. The safety perception of aircraft type can be a major factor for LCC choice in Korea due to frequent accidents and incidents for last two years. More than 60% of LCC passengers have increasingly considered the safety after recent accidents. The low cost airlines' images of the passengers showed that the first image of the LCC was the fare and the second image was safety. This study indicates that most of the LCC travelers will use the international low cost airlines when LCC extend their destination to adjacent countries. For the accomplishment of the low cost carriers' competitiveness in domestic market, they have to try to get rid of bad image for safety and pay extra attention to find out better services other than the safety and develop other strategies to compete against existing full service carriers.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aviation and Aeronautics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.45-55
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• 2006

Air transportation industry becomes more competitive because that the restrictions on new access to market were eased and related enough for each airline to choose the freight rate and the route without rein. New competitors are pursuing convergence strategy which focuses on low freight rate as a niche strategy for increasing market share by stimulating low cost demand. This strategy is now spreading all over the world such places as Europe, Asia, Oceania and etc. As of December 1, 2004, hundreds of low cost carriers are participating actively in the market and finding their level as a new strategic group in the air transportation industry with expanding their market. In case of USA, however, many airlines, which had newly entered to the market, went into bankruptcy in the mid-1980s. People Express in USA established in 1980 is one of the examples of failure. In case of Japan, Hokkaido International Airline, a typical low cost carrier which established in 1997, filed for bankruptcy. This study is for examining the strategic implication closely through the study on management strategy and cases of failure of low cost carriers.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.167-176
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• 2020

Purpose - In this study, we tried to find that the relationship between the perception of customers on the airline service quality, customer satisfaction, and intention to reuse in Chinese low-cost carriers industry. Design/methodology/approach - We conducted the empirical study for hypotheses testing using the survey data of experienced users in Chinese low-cost carriers service. In this study, reliability and factor analysis were conducted using SPSS 26.0, the path analysis was performed using AMOS 24. Findings - We found that the customer's perception of aviation operation, reservation/ ticketing, online information service provided by Chinese low-cost carriers are positively associated with customer satisfaction. In addition, it was confirmed that customer satisfaction is positively related to the intention to reuse. Research implications or Originality - Based on the results of analysis, it was confirmed that the basic sub-services of the airline are also important in the low-cost carriers services market.