The role of organizational networks in managing the disruptions in the airline ground operation process

The aim of the study is to understand and explain how airline companies manage the disruptions they encounter in the ground operation process through their informal networks. For this purpose, the main arguments of organizational networks theory are benefited. The research area consists of 30 companies directly involved in the airline ground operation process at Antalya airport. Within the scope of the study, the data was obtained from 34 managers, mostly at the level of station manager, in airline companies and supplier businesses through semi-structured interview and network survey techniques. In the study, NVIVO 12 was used for qualitative data analysis and UCINET 6.0 was used for social network analysis. With the study, it was revealed that the informal relationship network was used effectively in the management of the disruptions encountered in the airline ground operation process. It was concluded that this situation enables the most efficient use of the airport capacity, especially during the peak flight period called the season. However, it has been determined that the connections in the informal relationship network used are mostly based on workplace-based business friendship and consist of a strong-weak tie combination where weak ties are predominant. In addition, it has been observed that special requests and requests, delays in the service provided and sharing information / ideas / advice have an important place in the use of informal relationship network regarding the management of disruptions. According to another result, two A group ground handling companies and state actor (GH1, GH2, D1, respectively) are at the center of the informal relationship network used in the management of disruptions. The most key (prestigious) actors in the informal relationship network are the two A group ground handling companies and terminal business (GH1, T1 and GH3, respectively).