Airlines and the ethics of conducting business. Due to the nature of the air transport industry and all of the ‘dilemmas’ associated with travel, please identify and pin-point some of the critical moral, ethical, and diversity issues facing the industry – about 500 words.
a. Based on past course learnings, discuss some of the appropriate frameworks that can apply in trying to analyze the ethical problems and their alternative solutions in addressing the critical issues for the airline industry.
b. In terms of sustainability, diversity and innovation, have airlines made a leap in implementing more sustainable solutions (i.e. green engines, fuel consumption, safety etc.)?
i. Of late, airlines are facing a crisis of legitimacy surrounding the unsustainability of air travel. There is some multilateral attention being paid to the problem, and some firms have also tried to address this. Is this a problem that airline firms need to take seriously? Suggest one strategic action they should take in this regard.
ii. Are there any technology issues that need to be addressed? (Remember, the internet was especially unkind to the airlines, when passengers used their enhanced access to information to bargain down prices. How did the airlines solve this problem? You can argue that technology is incidental here (regulation, fuel prices and other issues might be more explanatory), but do offer an assessment on the role of technology in this industry.
iii. Do diverse groups of stakeholders experience United as a fair organization, or can a case be made that they discriminate within stakeholder groups?