Stakeholders’ views regarding macro-environment impacts on commercial flight operations in South Africa

Estie Serfointein,Krishna K Govender

doi:10.4102/jtscm.v14i0.511

Abstract

Background: Worldwide, the aviation industry facilitates the efficient movement of passengers and goods across borders to support economic access to various local, regional and international markets. As an indirect stimulus for other economies, the aviation industry is known for distinct economic competitiveness, low profit margins and vulnerability to macro-environment fluctuations. Although many studies have focused specifically on scheduled airline’s operations, this study of commercial flight operations in South Africa encompasses both airline operations and charter/on-demand operations.Objectives: The key research objective was to critically review stakeholders’ perceptions on the macro-environment’s influences on the flight operations subsector of South African aviation industry.Method: As research methodology to explore manifest and latent meaning in dialogue, qualitative content analysis was employed in this study. Data were collected through interviews with the stakeholders of South African aviation industry and analysed using qualitative content analysis.Results: This study revealed stakeholders’ views on the effects of political, economic, sociocultural, technological, legal and ecological (PESTLE) framework embedded in the macro-environment of commercial flight operations in South Africa.Conclusion: Although the macro-environment is uncontrollable by the industry, each of the PESTLE framework’s dimensions presents challenges as well as growth opportunities. Continuous monitoring and a comprehensive understanding of the probable impacts of the macro-environment are necessary to remain competitive.

Highlights

Commercial flight operations include the transport of passengers and cargo through scheduled and non-scheduled air transport operations, empirical data available on South African aviation industry remained focused on scheduled passenger transport, and failed to address non-scheduled or charter operations (Mabotja et al 2019)
As Njoya (2013) claims that the value of aviation industry and the continual growth thereof has remained mutually beneficial to all stakeholders, this study considers all categories of stakeholders to the South African aviation industry in a contemporary timeframe
The impact that the political environment has on the development of aviation regulations appropriate to the South African operating environment emerged as a concern

Summary

Introduction

Commercial flight operations include the transport of passengers and cargo through scheduled and non-scheduled air transport operations (international and domestic), empirical data available on South African aviation industry remained focused on scheduled passenger transport, and failed to address non-scheduled or charter operations (Mabotja et al 2019). The scope and economic value of non-scheduled market is frequently underestimated, as an estimated 6000 aircraft support non-scheduled flight operations and 240 aircraft facilitate scheduled/airline flight operations in South Africa (Dillman 2019). The aviation industry facilitates the efficient movement of passengers and goods across borders to support economic access to various local, regional and international markets. Many studies have focused on scheduled airline’s operations, this study of commercial flight operations in South Africa encompasses both airline operations and charter/on-demand operations

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion