Productivity comparison of European airlines: bootstrapping Malmquist indices

Abstract

The study explored the operating efficiency and variability of productivity estimates of European airlines. We applied Malmquist productivity indices (MPI) with a bootstrap method to assess the productivities of European airlines in four regions in Europe. The productivity of small-sized airlines lagged further behind that of large-sized airlines because of their inferior technological change (TC) effects derived from inefficient resource allocation to sustain a competitive advantage. This study also indicated that the Western European airlines were more efficient on average than those in other areas of Europe. The applications of Malmquist productivity techniques in assessing the performance of European airlines are highlighted in their effective resource allocation, sustained competitive advantage and optimized operating performance.