AIRLINE SERVICES

Aeropolitical and Bilateral Services – Almost by definition, aviation is one of the most international of industries, governed by a complex patchwork of international agreements that can be difficult to navigate. With its years of experience in the industry and relationships and expertise on five continents, GCW has helped U.S. and foreign carriers alike advance and achieve international agreements and outcomes crucial to their growth and profitability.

Representative Clients: Air Canada, Dragonair, Lufthansa, Northwest, Singapore Airlines
 

Alliances and Alliance Evaluation – Alliances are complex relationships of multi-national carriers that have competing as well as complementary interests. By combining statistical, commercial and cultural approaches to alliance evaluation, GCW helps airlines determine which group is right for them. Then we assist with alliance implementation by coordinating with key alliance members, assisting with alliance agreement negotiation, and helping to secure the necessary governmental approvals.

Representative Clients: Air Canada, Air China, bmi, China Southern, Dragonair, Northwest, Singapore Airlines

 
Airport Facilities Planning and Management – In addition to being a critical part of a community’s infrastructure, airport facilities can be a multi-million dollar, make-it-or-break-it element of an airline’s business plan. GCW works with airlines to develop and manage this essential asset in a way that supports their network and cost structure, whether it is the primary hub for a global full-service network airline or the home base for a low-cost carrier.

Representative Clients: Air China, Northwest, US Airways
 

Government Relations - On behalf of airlines around the world, GCW assists carriers with their advocacy with lawmakers and governments to secure favorable economic and operating conditions. This can range from the creation of advocacy position papers and presentations to quiet lobbying, not only in the United States, but also in Europe and China.

Representative Clients: Condor Flugdienst, Continental, Singapore Airlines, Thomas Cook UK

 
Hub Creation, Redesign, Evaluation – The hub has been a critical element in the business of most network carriers. While hubs in the United States are mature, hub and spoke networks elsewhere, particularly in China and other parts of the world, are in the development stage. In these places, GCW has undertaken major hub design projects, offering airports and airlines alike an experienced and independent way to appraise hub options.

Representative Clients: Air China, Air Macau, bmi, Lufthansa
 

Message Creation, Presentation, Delivery – About as important as developing the right business strategy in the airline industry is the task of selling it – to governments, alliance partners, airports, courts, labor groups and the finance community. GCW helps airlines persuade these various stake-holders by conducting background research that supports their case and presenting it in a clear and concise package, one that is easy to understand and support.

Representative Clients: Lufthansa, Northwest, Ryanair,  ATA, ASTAR Air Cargo, Shanghai Airlines, United, UPS
 

Low-Cost Carriers – Many airlines have attempted to duplicate the successful low-cost model first developed by Southwest Airlines more than thirty years ago, but far fewer have been able to develop a viable business. GCW's principals apply their years of experience in the low-cost sector to help carriers and investors around the world identify, develop, and implement the myriad of market, cultural and governmental tactics necessary to implement successfully a low-cost carrier business plan.

Representative Clients: Air Macau, ATA, Jet2.com, Ryanair, Spirit Airlines
 

Mergers & Acquisition/Consolidation – Mergers are an inevitable reality in the airline industry, as carriers seek to better position themselves in changed environments. With a wealth of experience in assessing the competitive issues associated with mergers, and in navigating the pitfalls associated with melding different organizations and cultures, GCW helps airlines avoid the mistakes that have crippled merged carriers in the past.

Representative Clients: Air Canada, Continental, Delta, Kirk Kerkorian, Lufthansa, Marvin Davis, Northwest, Pan Am Creditors Committee, Singapore Airlines
 

Forecasting, Routes, Networking, Game Scenarios – In the cut-throat world of airlines, getting a strategy right the first time is essential. GCW helps airlines around the world study and assess what their optimal market opportunities are and, just as importantly, what their competitors’ responses are likely to be to, ensure that market entry decisions are based on what the real world is likely to be, not what a client would like it to be.

Representative Clients: Air China, bmi, China Southern, Delta, Jet2.com, Lufthansa, Northwest, Swiss, Virgin Atlantic