Hard Landing

How Deregulation Turned the Airline Industry Upside Down and Changed Business Forever - A New Synthesis

What happens when forty years of rules disappear overnight?
For decades, the American airline industry was a comfortable club. The government dictated who could fly where and what prices they could charge. Giants like Pan Am and TWA ruled the skies, competing on glamour, not cost. But in 1978, everything changed.

The Airline Deregulation Act blew the industry wide open, unleashing a brutal war for the skies. New airlines rose from nowhere, and legendary carriers fell into bankruptcy. Fortunes were made and lost on brilliant strategies and disastrous gambles. The very rules of business were rewritten at 30,000 feet.

This book synthesizes the epic story of that transformation, drawing from the landmark work Hard Landing by Thomas Petzinger Jr. It’s a gripping narrative of the titans and rebels who fought for control, from the visionary strategist Robert Crandall at American Airlines to the maverick Herb Kelleher at Southwest.

Inside, you’ll discover:

• The fatal flaws of the regulated “golden age” of flying.
• The daring strategies that allowed some airlines to dominate while others crumbled.
• Timeless lessons in leadership, innovation, and competitive strategy that are more relevant today than ever.

Whether you are an aviation professional navigating today’s turbulent market, a CEO looking for powerful business case studies, a student of strategy, or simply a reader who loves a dramatic story of disruption and innovation, this book provides a vital look into one of the greatest business transformations in history.

Find out what it really takes to survive a Hard Landing. Scroll up and grab your copy today!