Automated web client robots (or webbots) were used to query the websites of JetBlue and one online travel agent (OTA). The webbots collected detailed itinerary, fare, and seat map information for nonstop flights on a daily basis from 8/5/2010 through 9/21/2010. During this time period, queries were run to collect airfares and seat maps for a rolling set of 21 departure dates. For example, when the data collection began on 8/5/2010, information for flights departing on 9/2/2010, 9/3/2010, ... , to 9/22/2010 was obtained. For the next day of data collection, 8/6/2010, information for the same flight departure dates was obtained. Collecting data in this way provides information for each flight in a market for 21 departure dates and over a booking period from 1 to 28 days before flight departure.
In selecting the sample of markets to use in this study, we control for several factors. We control for differences in market competition by selecting four markets where JetBlue and Virgin America compete head-to-head, with both offering nonstop flights. These markets are all long haul markets with similar flight times and lengths of haul. All of the markets are transcontinental flights that originate on the East coast. In selecting these markets, we are also controlling for equipment type. Specifically, both Virgin America and JetBlue mainly use Airbus 320 planes. In these markets, JetBlue flies the A320 exclusively, and Virgin America flies the A320 in all flights in all markets with one exception. In JFKSFO, Virgin America offered flights on their smaller plane, the Airbus 319, for six departure dates.
Table 6.2 provides a list of airport codes and airport names in our data. Table 6.3 provides a list of the airline codes and names, and Table 6.4 contains a list of the 4 markets included in this study, along with nonstop competitors, average fares, and number of bookings. A total of 7,522 bookings were observed for JetBlue.
Table 6.2: Airport Codes and Names
Airport Code
|
Name of Airport, City and State
|
BOS
|
Logan International Airport, Boston, Massachusetts
|
FLL
|
Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
|
JFK
|
John F. Kennedy International, New York City, New York
|
LAS
|
McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada
|
LAX
|
Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, California
|
SFO
|
San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco, California
|
Table 6.3: Airline Codes and Names
Airline Code
|
Airline
|
Type Carrier
|
AA
|
American Airlines
|
Major
|
B6
|
JetBlue Airways
|
Low Cost
|
DL
|
Delta Airlines
|
Major
|
UA
|
United Airlines
|
Major
|
VX
|
Virgin America
|
Low Cost
|
Table 6.4: JetBlue Descriptive Statistics: Markets, Competitors, Bookings and Prices
Market
|
Nonstop Competitors
|
Flight Number
|
DTOD1
|
Total Book-ings
|
Min Price
|
Mean Price
|
Max Price
|
BOSLAX
|
AA, B6, UA, VX
|
473
|
8
|
844
|
$114
|
$205
|
$586
|
483
|
18
|
927
|
$114
|
$191
|
$466
|
JFKLAS
|
AA, B6, DL, VX
|
187
|
7
|
451
|
$129
|
$254
|
$463
|
191
|
18
|
405
|
$129
|
$231
|
$463
|
197
|
10
|
458
|
$129
|
$282
|
$586
|
199
|
21
|
313
|
$129
|
$225
|
$463
|
711
|
14
|
481
|
$129
|
$251
|
$526
|
JFKLAX
|
AA, B6, DL, UA, VX
|
671
|
11
|
691
|
$129
|
$257
|
$586
|
673
|
16
|
671
|
$129
|
$244
|
$586
|
675
|
7
|
974
|
$129
|
$205
|
$526
|
677
|
19
|
747
|
$129
|
$223
|
$466
|
JFKSFO
|
AA, B6, DL, UA, VX
|
641
|
8
|
339
|
$129
|
$300
|
$586
|
647
|
17
|
221
|
$129
|
$287
|
$586
|
Totals/Averages:
|
7,522
|
$114
|
$233
|
$586
|
1DTOD= Flight Departure Time of Day, in military time. For example, a DTOD of 18 means the flights departed sometime between 6:00pm and 6:59pm.
Share with your friends: |