Publications
Publications
- January 2008 (Revised November 2009)
- HBS Case Collection
Linear Air: Creating the Air Taxi Industry
Abstract
Linear Air is an air taxi start-up established to take advantage of the emergence of Very Light Jets, which incorporate new technology that cuts jet operating costs by about 40%. Air taxis could make use of the 5400 smaller regional airports throughout the US, potentially revolutionizing air travel. But the nascent air taxi industry doesn't yet exist, and there are competing conceptions of what the industry should look like. The founder must evaluate what customer segments to target, what business model to utilize, how to encourage development of the industry ecosystem, and more broadly how to help shape the industry so that it does not develop a highly competitive structure akin to the existing airline industry.
Keywords
Business Model; Business Startups; Entrepreneurship; Disruptive Innovation; Product Launch; Industry Structures; Competition; Air Transportation Industry
Citation
Tripsas, Mary, Davin Chow, Adam Prewett, and Kevin Yttre. "Linear Air: Creating the Air Taxi Industry." Harvard Business School Case 808-107, January 2008. (Revised November 2009.)