The effect of airline mergers on on-time performance

This study analyzed the effect of mergers in the airline industry on on-time performance. The importance of this study is reflected by the on-going discussion relating to whether airline mergers are disadvantageous to consumers. Data provided by the US government is used to compare the frequency and length of flight delays before and after a merger. The statistical analyses show that on-time performance becomes worse after a merger. However, when looking at mergers independently, we can conclude that the effect of mergers on on-time performance is not equal for every merger studied.