Research in Relationship between Operation Efficiencyand Profit Margin for Domestic Airline Industry

[[abstract]]國內民航市場自從開放天空政策實施以來，航空客運承載率頻頻下滑，去年（民91年）國內航線平均乘載率為55.14﹪更創下了歷年來的新低，國內航空公司虧損連連。航空公司面對競爭激烈的環境，卻無法增加客源的情況下，業者紛紛採取減少航線與航班的措施來因應此窘境。由於承載率不佳，航空公司減少航班、退出經營不佳的航線，雖是情有可原，但若從另一個角度觀察，根據Martin J. Osborne et al.,(1987)之研究認為在寡占市場中，生產者間可透過勾結、限制產量及產出，達到其獲取超額利潤的目的。目前國內航空市場仍為寡占市場，因此本研究推論航空公司有可能試圖以減少航線、航班來影響市場結構，進而達到獲利之目的；此外，減少航班也許能降低營運變動成本，但對於航空公司經營效率是否能夠達最適則須進一歨加以探討。本研究以遠東航空公司為例，從容量利用（Capacity Utilization）之觀點來探討航空公司之經營效率。經實證結果發現，遠東航空公司從民國八十七年一月至民國八十八年七月間，其經營效率位於規模報酬遞增階段，但自八十八年八月後，該公司之經營效率卻位於規模報酬遞減階段。因此，就短期觀點而言，減少班次是為了達到產量最適，但以長期均衡觀點視之，則航空公司需增加航班與載客人數以消化其超額容量（over-capacity）。 未來國內客運市場在高鐵加入營運後，將大幅萎縮，專營國內航線之航空公司在整體營運上需作結構性調整，才能夠在此競爭激烈的環境中生存，因此對其獲利相關因素之探討亦相當重要。本研究以產業經濟學領域中對於產業結構（Structure）透過市場行為（Conduct）影響市場績效（Performance）的S-C-P理論為背景，建構以市場獲利、價格水準與經營績效三者之聯立迴歸方程組，以釐清其相互影響之關係，並進而探討影響航空公司獲利相關因素。研究結果發現，市場集中度對航空公司獲利無顯著影響，而實售價格水準越高，容量使用率越無效率，則對獲利有顯著正面的影響。[[abstract]]As the government has approved the bill to free the air space for commercial airline industry within the nation, the passenger occupancy number has hit the record low in the history. The load factor is about 55.14% for national route for the year of 2002, which is the record low number, and the industry has experienced continuous loss in profit. For a difficult time like this, the airline industry has conducted various actions such as reducing lines and flights under the circumstances that it is unlikely to attract more passengers. The reduction in passenger occupancy, number of flights, and retreat of unprofitable service route are reasonable actions. However, from another angle, Martin J. Osborne (1987) has pointed out the fact that manufacturers can gain excessive profit by manipulating the market and restrict the product in monopoly market. The domestic airline market is still controlled by the monopoly; therefore, it is reasonable to suspect the airline companies has attempted to affect the market structure by reducing service lines and flight frequencies to obtain more profit. Though it is possible to lower the operation restructure cost by reducing number of flights, yet it is doubtful if the policy could improve the operation efficiency for the business. The case studied in this research paper uses F Airline as an example to discuss the airline industry operation efficiency from the capacity utilization point of view. The result has discovered that its operation efficiency is having a positive cost return for the period between January 1998 and July 1999. From August 1999, the cost return slope has become negative. As a result, it can be concluded that the reduction in flight is to satisfy the utilization point of production in short term’s perspective. Yet from long-term period perspective, airline should increase number of flights and passenger capacity to absorb the over capacity situation. The national airline market will experience humongous shrinkage after the High Speed Rail activates its services. Specific airline services will have to restructure the integral operation model and make necessary adjustment to survive the competition; hence, it is essential to discuss the key factors affecting the profit margin. This research has formulated (simultaneous regression equation) based on the S-C-P theory of industry structure affects the market performance by conducting market actions in the economy discipline to predict the market profit, price range, and market performance. The goal is to define the relationship between the factors and the interconnections among them; moreover, to determine the relevant factors for profit gaining of airline industry. The research outcome reveals that the concentration of market has no obvious influences in profit gaining. The higher the sale price, the lower the capacity utilization ratio and has apparent positive assistance for profit gaining