Retrenchment

Outbreak

Engineering

Pathology

Business

Aerospace engineering

Virology

Economics

Marketing

Political science

Management

Disease

Crisis management

Crisis response

2019-20 coronavirus outbreak

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Public administration

Public relations

Infectious disease (medical specialty)

Medicine

Aviation

Pandemic

Journal of Air Transport Management

This paper analyzes airline reactions to the COVID-19 crisis in the spring months of 2020 along the typical crisis response strategies of retrenchment, persevering, innovating, and exit. Based on the content analysis of 148 news items filtered from a daily aviation industry newsletter published during the unfolding of the crisis in Europe (from January 6 to June 2), the paper specifies and differentiates European airlines' strategic responses, outlines key implications for the post-COVID-19 competitive landscape, and raises attention points for managers and policy makers.

European airlines′ strategic responses to the COVID-19 pandemic (January-May, 2020)