If you have ever travelled by air, the odds are high that you have encountered an airline alliance in one form or another. Sometimes the experience is invisible, sometimes you notice that a different carrier handles your check-in and sometimes you choose a flight because it earns miles with your preferred loyalty programme. Yet what sits behind these arrangements is far more complex than most passengers realise.
In this episode of the Collaborative Business Podcast, recorded in 2013, we step into the world of airline alliances with Bruce Donszelmann, who at the time served as VP Alliances at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Bruce explains why no two alliances are alike and why strong executive support is indispensable for any strategic collaboration.
Our conversation explores several dimensions unique to the airline sector. One example is landing rights, which are tightly bound to political considerations. Their allocation can draw governments into the formation and operation of alliances, adding layers of complexity seldom seen in other industries.
Listen and learn as Bruce shares his experience of how airline alliances really work. You will also discover that the industry hosts far more alliances than those strictly between airlines.
Enjoy the episode!
