The relationship between airline business models and aircraft turnaround process: A study on full-service and low-cost airlines

In the highly competitive environment of the aviation industry, airline companies adopt different business models. These business models exhibit significant differences in terms of operational priorities and service delivery strategies. These differences directly affect the operational efficiency of the turnaround process, which refers to the time between an aircraft's landing and its next departure. This study aims to examine the relationship between the different business models of airline companies and their aircraft turnaround times, identifying the causes of delays. In the first section of the study, the characteristics of service enterprises, process management, and business models are discussed. The second section addresses the management of service delivery processes in aviation enterprises, considering airline companies, airport operators, and ground handling service providers separately. In the third section, flight operation data for 2023 from an airport located in the Aegean Region of Turkey are analyzed in detail for two different airlines adopting Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) and Full-Service Carrier (FSC) business models. The analysis compares the operational processes, passenger capacities, and delay rates of both business models using the airport's 2023 data. The findings reveal the impacts of business models on aircraft turnaround times and the causes of delays.