Ryanair (A) & (B)Key Take-Aways

Haas School of Business

University of California, Berkeley

How can we anticipate competitor’s moves?

Ryanair vs Aer Lingus / BA Will these players retaliate against Ryanair? If so, how? Given the assumption of retaliation, should Ryanair enter? If

so, how?

How can we anticipate competitor’s moves?

Game Theory Identify structure of the game that is being played In static setting, predicts limited competitive response of AL /

BA to Ryanair’s entry---but it’s a close call With targeted response, retaliation starts to look attractive With non-pecuniary incentives, retaliation starts to look attractive

Competitor analysis Develop model of pecuniary and non-pecuniary incentives,

views of the “game”, etc. based on “Competitor response profile”

Competitor analysis

Competitor analysis can be helpful in anticipating competitor moves A competitor profile includes an assessment of a competitor’s

strengths and weaknesses, its strategic intent, and its behavioral predispositions

Competitor analysis is inherently qualitative Complements quantitative analyses

Competitor analysis (II)

Questions to ask: What are the goals of my competitor?

May be different from pure greed (profit maximization) What is the strategy of my competitor?

Do the prior strategic actions (or statements) of the competitor suggest a direction that the competitor now might take?

What are the resources and capabilities of my competitor? Does the competitor have a particular set of strengths or weaknesses

that might make some of its reactions more or less likely to succeed? What assumptions is the competitor making about the

business? Competitors may hold a set of assumptions about the industry that lead it

to make systematically different choices from the ones that you would make, were you in their shoes

A Framework for Competitor Analysis

Source: Michael E. Porter, Competitive Strategy, p. 49

What the Competitor Is Doing and Can Do

What Drives the Competitor

Future Goals

At all levels of managementand in multiple dimensions

Current StrategyHow the business iscurrently competing

CapabilitiesBoth strengthsand weaknesses

AssumptionsHeld about itselfand the industry

Competitor’s Response Profile

Is the competitor satisfied with its current position?

What likely moves or strategy shifts will the competitor make?

Where is the competitor vulnerable?

What will provoke the greatest and most effective retaliation by the competitor?

Competitor profile of British Airways (1986)

Goals Successful flotation /

privatization Key step for Thatcher’s program

Focus on near term profitability

Resources and Capabilities Government interest Heathrow Extensive network Reputation for safe, reliable

service; improving reputation for customer service

(neg) still operationally inefficient (neg) needs capex to upgrade

int’l fleet

Strategy Differentiation in service: “The

world’s favorite airline” Focus on business class

customers

Assumptions Competition is coming to Europe BA will benefit from airline de-

regulation in Europe given extensive international experience

What does this tell us about how BA is likely to respond?What does this tell us about how BA is likely to respond?

Competitor profile of Aer Lingus (1986)

Goals “Safety, efficiency, reliability, and

profitability” Promote national interests

Resources and Capabilities Government backing Reputation & reliability among

Irish Established operations in EU,

Boston, NY Shannon airfield Technical skills that other airlines

need (neg) inefficient (neg) needs capex

Strategy Break even on air services and

profit from diversification Provide service levels

comparable to flag carriers

Assumptions Airline service is a public good

government will pay One true way to run an airline Airlines cooperate ‘Gentlemanly’ competition

What does this tell us about how AL is likely to respond?What does this tell us about how AL is likely to respond?

Ryanair’s 1986 entry strategy

Initial success 100% load factor on Dublin-London Route AL & BA dropped restricted fares to I₤95 vs. Ryanair’s I₤95

unrestricted fare: a rather mild reaction Positive press – managers believed they had a winning strategy

Expansion 27 routes; 5 jets by 1991 rapidly increasing customer volumes strategy: “driven by customer service”

Aer Lingus responds matches prices, increases capacity on routes served by Ryanair

Problems with Ryanair’s 1986 entry strategy

Limited cost advantage in high fixed cost, low marginal cost industries competition is

intense for incremental customers even though Ryanair may have had a cost advantage, AL was willing to

produce below average costs (but above marginal costs) to pay off fixed costs

AL had deeper pockets and other sources of profit

No service advantage “first rate customer service” – no difference from BA or AL potential disadvantages

flying into Luton rather than Gatwick or Heathrow flying turboprops rather than jets

A me-too strategy

In the words of Porter, Ryanair attempted to compete on operational effectiveness without making any explicit tradeoffs “we tried to be all things to all people” – Kevin Osborne, CFO,

Ryanair (B) case

Not differentiated and not enough of a cost advantage to profit from the restructuring of the industry that they began

Comparison to Dell’s Entry

“Compaq was very strong in retail. A new marketing an distribution strategy was something new, however.” --- Michael Dell

Dell’s entry: Not head-to-head with established players Achieved significant variable cost advantage (7 versus 65

days inventory) “Stealth” strategy --- direct channel undervalued by

established players

Ryanair rising from the ashes

O’Leary, 29, appointed Deputy CEO “No one else was left to take the position”

Focus on cost reduction & cash generation Drop loss-making routes No in-flight amenities Renegotiated labor contracts to pay based on productivity Emphasized duty-free sales

Become 1/3 of flight attendant compensation Sell advertisements on seat-backs Goal: “become a low-cost, low-fare airline”

Senior managers visit Herb Kelleher at Southwest

Even more frugal than Southwest

No free snacks or drinks Not even peanuts!

No “air bridges” linking plans with airport terminals All boarding via metal stairs

No frequent flier program

Average fare falls to I£42 / passenger Average cost ~ I£25 In 1999, O’Leary claimed marginal cost was - I£2

Ryanair’s Route Map Today

http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/dests.php?flash=yes

Relative Efficiency of Major Airlines

Employees (approx)

Revenue per employee (est)

Market Value of Equity

Ryanair 2,302 Euro 450,000 $6.7 Billion

Southwest 31,011 $210,570 $11.3 Billion

Continental 38,255 $254,607 $855 Million

Delta 69,150 $217,919 $566 Million

Strategy or “being on the right side of history” i.e., luck?Strategy or “being on the right side of history” i.e., luck?