ABSTRACT
The pandemic had a very negative and penalizing impact on service activity sectors, including tourism and transport, to which Portugal was not immune. TAP Air Portugal, like Ryanair and easyJet, felt these adverse effects in their operations, forcing them to readjust their operating network. The present investigation aims to assess the effects of the pandemic on these airlines at Lisbon and Porto airports between 2019 (pre-pandemic) and 2022. In methodological terms, the analysis will be exploratory, descriptive, and mostly qualitative, based on the collection of information on the departure flights operated from these airports by the selected airlines in selecting dates. The results obtained show that TAP was the airline company most penalized given its international operation with many countries and their borders closed. In Porto, the results of this company were even more severe, reducing more than 50% of the airports served. © 2023, IGI Global. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Of all the Portuguese private airlines that for many years competed with TAP Air Portugal (the Portuguese owned state airline) only Portugália Airlines (PGA) resisted the hegemony of the Portuguese flag carrier until it was bought by TAP itself. Portugália Airlines, a private airline, managed to maintain its operation, even against the power of the state company. This case study shows how PGA operated certain routes (here the Turin example, in Italy) as a survival strategy. The approach is exploratory and based on an observational description of facts. In view of the recent events caused by COVID 19, the pandemic has brought about a change in business models, also providing the warning that anyone who does not have a clear strategy, dies at birth. The case study leaves some interesting clues to explore. © 2023, IGI Global. All rights reserved.