Impact Of Airline Service Quality On Customer Loyalty: A Case Of Selected Indian Domestic Airlines

Authors

  • Dr. Pratibha Bhardwaj Associate Professor, MDU-Centre for Professional and Allied Studies, Gurugram; M.D. University, Rohtak Author
  • Radhika Sharma Research Scholar, University School of Management, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra Author

Keywords:

service quality, perceptible, dependability, assurance, reactive, compassion

Abstract

This study explores the impact of airline service quality on customer loyalty within the context of Indian domestic airlines. As competition intensifies in the aviation sector, understanding the factors that drive customer loyalty has become crucial for airlines aiming to enhance their market position. This research employs a quantitative approach, utilizing surveys to gather data from frequent flyers across various Indian domestic airlines. Key service quality dimensions—including reliability, responsiveness, assurance, empathy, and tangibles—are analyzed to determine their influence on customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Findings indicate that service quality significantly affects customer loyalty, with reliability and responsiveness emerging as the most critical dimensions. The study also highlights the role of customer satisfaction as a mediating factor in the relationship between service quality and loyalty. Furthermore, demographic variables reveal differing perceptions of service quality, suggesting that airlines should tailor their strategies to meet diverse customer needs. This research contributes to the existing literature by providing insights specific to the Indian market and offers practical recommendations for airline management to enhance service quality and foster customer loyalty.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Bitner, M.J. and Hubbert, A.R. (1994), “Encounter satisfaction vs. overall satisfaction and quality”, Sage Publications, pp. 72-94.

Bollen, K. A. (1989), “A new incremental fit index for general structural equation models”, Sociological methods & research, 17(3), 303-316.

Bollen, K. A., & Stine, R. (1990), “Direct and indirect effects: Classical and bootstrap estimates of variability”, Sociological methodology, 115-140.

Boulding, W., Kalra, A., Staelin, R., & Zeithaml, V. A. (1993), “A dynamic process model of service quality: from expectations to behavioral intentions” Journal of marketing research, 30(1), 7-27.

Boulter, D. (2013), Strategic Analysis for a Software Company in the Customer Relationship Management Market.

Byrne, B. M. (1998). Structural equation modeling with LISREL, PRELIS, and SIMPLIS: Basic concepts, applications, and programming. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.

Dehghan, A., & Shahin, A. (2011), “Customer loyalty assessment: A case study in MADDIRAN, the distributor of LG Electronics in Iran”, Business Management and Strategy, 2(1), 1.

Fornell, C., &Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39–50.

Gronroos, C. (1982), “An applied service marketing theory”, European Journal of Marketing, 16(7), 30-41

Gronroos, C. (1983), “Strategic Management and Marketing in the Service Sector”, Marketing Science Institute, Boston, MA.

Gronroos, C. (1984), "A Service Quality Model and Its Marketing Implications," European” Journal of Marketing, (18), 36-44.

H.C. Kim, B.L. Chua, S. Lee, H.C. Boo, H. Han, “Understanding airline travellers’ perceptions of well-being: the role of cognition, emotion, and sensory experiences in airline lounges”, Journal of Travel Tourism Market, 33 (9) (2016) 1213– 1234.

Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., Anderson, R. E., &Tatham, R. L. (1998). Multivariate data analysis (Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 207-219). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice hall.

Hair, J.F., Black, W.C., Babin, B.J. and Anderson, R.E. (2014) Multivariate Data Analysis. 7th Edition, Pearson Education.

Hallowell, R. (1996), “The relationships of customer satisfaction, customer loyalty and portability: an empirical study”, International Journal of Service Industry Management, Vol. 7 No. 4, pp. 27-42.

Haynes, R., & Percy, J. (1994). “Perception paradox: Airline service quality issues”,

Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., &Sinkovics, R. R. (2009). “The use of partial least squares path modeling in international marketing”, In New challenges to international marketing (Vol. 20, pp. 277-319). Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

Heskett, J. L. (1994), “Controlling customer logistics service”, In Business Logistics (pp. 51-63). Boston, MA: Springer US.

Hess, S., Adler, T., &Polak, J. W. (2007), “Modelling airport and airline choice behaviour with the use of stated preference survey data”, Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, 43(3), 221-233.

Jacoby, J., &Kyner, D. B. (1973), “Brand loyalty vs. repeat purchasing behaviour”, Journal of Marketing research, 10(1), 1-9.

James, L. R., & Brett, J. M. (1984), “Mediators, moderators, and tests for mediation”, Journal of applied psychology, 69(2), 307.

Kim, W. G., Lee, Y. K., &Yoo, Y. J. (2006), “Predictors of relationship quality and relationship outcomes in luxury restaurants”, Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research, 30(2), 143-169.

Knutson, B. J. (1988), “Frequent travelers: Making them happy and bringing them back”, Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly, 29(1), 82-87.

Lee, Y. K., Park, K. H., Park, D. H., Lee, K. A., & Kwon, Y. J. (2005), “The relative impact of service quality on service value, customer satisfaction, and customer loyalty in Korean family restaurant context”, International journal of hospitality & tourism administration, 6(1), 27-51.

Lewis, M. (2004), “The influence of loyalty programs and short-term promotions on customer retention”, Journal of marketing research, 41(3), 281-292.

Loehlin, J. C. (1992). Genes and environment in personality development. Sage Publications, Inc.

N. Martel, P.N. Seneviratne, Analysis of factors influencing quality of service in passenger terminal buildings, Transp. Res. Rec. 1273 (1990).

Parasuraman, A. and V. Zeithaml 2006, “Understanding and Improving Service Quality: A Literature Review and Research Agenda”, In B. Weitz and R. Wensley (Ed.), Handbook of Marketing. London: Sage Publications.

Parasuraman, A., Berry, L. L. and Zeithaml, V. A. (1985), “A conceptual model of service quality and its implications for future research”, Journal of Marketing (pre-1986), 49, 41-50.

Parasuraman, A., Zeithaml, V. A. and Berry, L. L. (1988), “A multiple-item scale for measuring consumer perceptions of service quality”, Journal of Retailing, 64 (Spring), pp.12-37.

Park, J. W., Robertson, R., & Wu, C. L. (2004), “The effect of airline service quality on passengers’ behavioural intentions: a Korean case study”, Journal of Air Transport Management, 10(6), 435-439.

Park, J. W., Robertson, R., & Wu, C. L. (2005), “Investigating the effects of airline service quality on airline image and passengers' future behavioural intentions: findings from Australian international air passengers”, Journal of Tourism Studies, 16(1), 2-11.

Tepeci M. (1999). “Increasing brand loyalty in the hospitality industry”, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality and Management, Vol.11 (5), pp. 223-229.

Terblanche, N. S., & Boshoff, C. (2006), “A generic instrument to measure customer satisfaction with the controllable elements of the in-store shopping experience”, South African Journal of Business Management, 37(3), 1-15.

Tseng, M.L., Divinagracia, L. and Divinagracia, R., (2009), “Evaluating firm’s sustainable production indicators in uncertainty”, Comp. Industrial Engineering, Vol.57, pp.1393-1403

Zeithaml, V. A., Bitner, M. J., &Gremler, D. D. (1996), “The gaps model of service quality”, Services Marketing, 37-49.

Zeithaml, V. A., Parasuraman, A., & Berry, L. L. (1990), Delivering quality service: Balancing customer perceptions and expectations. Simon and Schuster.

Zeithaml, V.A. (1987), “Defining and relating price, perceived quality, and perceived value”, Report No. 87-101. Cambridge, MA: Marketing Science Institute.

Downloads

Published

16-02-2023

How to Cite

Bhardwaj, Dr. Pratibha, and Radhika Sharma. “Impact Of Airline Service Quality On Customer Loyalty: A Case Of Selected Indian Domestic Airlines”. Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research & Review, vol. 4, no. 1, Feb. 2023, pp. 86-103, https://ajmrr.org/journal/article/view/216.

Similar Articles

21-30 of 33

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.