Any Braniff experts out there? I have some questions.
Dec 10, 2003 | 4:01 pm
#1
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Any Braniff experts out there? I have some questions.
OK, I know I'm going back a few years. Time to jog some memories!
I figured if there were any Braniff experts floating around, they would be on FT.
I am currently working on my MBA and we were just assigned a case study on Braniff. If any other FT'rs out there wouldn't mind answering a few questions for me (via private email), or posting some links with quality information on Braniff, I would sincerely appreciate your time.
The main focus of the case study is Harding Lawrence and how his leadership style, personal traits, behaviors, attitudes and decision making contributed to the downfall of Braniff.
This post may be a bit offtopic, but I didn't see any other Forum that appeared to be a better choice.
[This message has been edited by hockeystl (edited Dec 10, 2003).]
I figured if there were any Braniff experts floating around, they would be on FT.
I am currently working on my MBA and we were just assigned a case study on Braniff. If any other FT'rs out there wouldn't mind answering a few questions for me (via private email), or posting some links with quality information on Braniff, I would sincerely appreciate your time.
The main focus of the case study is Harding Lawrence and how his leadership style, personal traits, behaviors, attitudes and decision making contributed to the downfall of Braniff.
This post may be a bit offtopic, but I didn't see any other Forum that appeared to be a better choice.
[This message has been edited by hockeystl (edited Dec 10, 2003).]
Dec 10, 2003 | 4:35 pm
#2
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Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
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Two book recommendations:
"Splash of Colors" by John Nance -- the definitive history of BN's decline and bankruptcy. Published circa 1985. Nance was a BN pilot at the time; this was his first book; he's now a major aviation author and ABC News aviation analyst.
"A Life in Advertising" by Mary Wells. Her agency, Wells Rich Greene, did the Braniff "If You've Got It, Flaunt It" campaign and painted the planes up so they were nicknamed the "jellybean fleet" ... and she eventually married Harding Lawrence. Lots in the book about Braniff flamboyance.
"Splash of Colors" by John Nance -- the definitive history of BN's decline and bankruptcy. Published circa 1985. Nance was a BN pilot at the time; this was his first book; he's now a major aviation author and ABC News aviation analyst.
"A Life in Advertising" by Mary Wells. Her agency, Wells Rich Greene, did the Braniff "If You've Got It, Flaunt It" campaign and painted the planes up so they were nicknamed the "jellybean fleet" ... and she eventually married Harding Lawrence. Lots in the book about Braniff flamboyance.
Dec 11, 2003 | 1:52 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: London, England.
Programs: BA
Posts: 8,745
Behind the demise of Braniff (which was of course caused by many complex reasons that still have commentators arguing) was a familiar airline screenplay.
Airline led by larger-than-life character embarks on huge and not particularly well thought out growth strategy, new routes, new aircraft, is somewhat undercapitalised, but above all feels that while they are completely entitled to enter other airlines' markets, never envisage that those airlines will come back and compete aggressively against them. Runs out of cash. The end.
Then there is all sorts of whining about how "unfair" the other airlines have been to them. Tough. No one forces you into the aviation game.
Laker Airways was another example of the same culture. Sorry, the supporters of Sir Freddie, it's true.
In Braniff's case the expansion was so underfunded that new aircraft had to be left at Boeing because they could not afford the final payment on delivery. And while they were distracted setting up strange new routes to Asia and Europe, American came in and took over their home turf at Dallas.
Regarding Harding Lawrence and Mary Wells, the original Power Couple, Harding died 2 years ago. Mary is retired in the South of France. This website has much of interest on Braniff personalities :-
http://www.braniffinternational.org/...mary_wells.htm
Hockeystl, PM with any questions. My MBA course had much less interesting case studies, like Babcock & Wilcox building power stations
[This message has been edited by WHBM (edited Dec 11, 2003).]
Airline led by larger-than-life character embarks on huge and not particularly well thought out growth strategy, new routes, new aircraft, is somewhat undercapitalised, but above all feels that while they are completely entitled to enter other airlines' markets, never envisage that those airlines will come back and compete aggressively against them. Runs out of cash. The end.
Then there is all sorts of whining about how "unfair" the other airlines have been to them. Tough. No one forces you into the aviation game.
Laker Airways was another example of the same culture. Sorry, the supporters of Sir Freddie, it's true.
In Braniff's case the expansion was so underfunded that new aircraft had to be left at Boeing because they could not afford the final payment on delivery. And while they were distracted setting up strange new routes to Asia and Europe, American came in and took over their home turf at Dallas.
Regarding Harding Lawrence and Mary Wells, the original Power Couple, Harding died 2 years ago. Mary is retired in the South of France. This website has much of interest on Braniff personalities :-
http://www.braniffinternational.org/...mary_wells.htm
Hockeystl, PM with any questions. My MBA course had much less interesting case studies, like Babcock & Wilcox building power stations
[This message has been edited by WHBM (edited Dec 11, 2003).]
Dec 11, 2003 | 9:56 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Oregon (DL and Marr Lifetime plat. etc.)
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There's a great (Harvard?) case study on the birth of Southwest Airlines, which certainly contributed to Braniff's demise.
Also interesting is the recorded conversation between the CEOs (who were brothers if I recall correctly) of BN and another airline that some construed as an attempt at price fixing.
I was within a couple of days of leaving for London on 2 free tickets when they announced bankruptcy. Would have been a lot worse if I was already over there.
[This message has been edited by PIONEER (edited Dec 11, 2003).]
Also interesting is the recorded conversation between the CEOs (who were brothers if I recall correctly) of BN and another airline that some construed as an attempt at price fixing.
I was within a couple of days of leaving for London on 2 free tickets when they announced bankruptcy. Would have been a lot worse if I was already over there.
[This message has been edited by PIONEER (edited Dec 11, 2003).]
Dec 12, 2003 | 12:57 pm
#8
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PIONEER:
Also interesting is the recorded conversation between the CEOs (who were brothers if I recall correctly) of BN and another airline that some construed as an attempt at price fixing.
</font>
Also interesting is the recorded conversation between the CEOs (who were brothers if I recall correctly) of BN and another airline that some construed as an attempt at price fixing.
</font>
And the Justice Department was certainly convinced that it was an attempt by Crandall to fix prices.
I believe that AA settled the case for some $$$ and promises to never do it again.
www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/transportation/jan-june98/crandall_5-20.html
Dec 12, 2003 | 2:54 pm
#9
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Thanks to everyone for his/her replies on this topic. Sorry to flipside for breaching protocol and posting on the wrong forum.
WHBM and opushomes, YGM.
Thanks again. I'll be working on this project through Tuesday afternoon, so please keep the information flowing!
hockeystl
WHBM and opushomes, YGM.
Thanks again. I'll be working on this project through Tuesday afternoon, so please keep the information flowing!
hockeystl