Frequently asked questions for
Airline

Airline is a web-based business strategy simulation where students manage a regional airline over multiple simulated quarters. Working in teams, students make integrated decisions across pricing, marketing, fleet management, scheduling, operations, human resources, and finance while competing directly against other teams.

Airline is commonly used in:

• Business Strategy
• Strategic Management
• Strategy in a Service Industry Context
• Undergraduate capstone classes

Because it integrates finance, marketing, operations, and strategy, it works especially well as a cross-functional capstone experience.

Airline emphasizes:

• Operational realism (capacity constraints, load factors, fuel pricing, aircraft utilization)
• Strategic trade-offs rather than “gaming the system”
• Competitive dynamics, where teams directly affect one another’s outcomes
• Uncertainty and imperfect information, mirroring real managerial decision-making

There is no single “correct” strategy—success depends on alignment, execution, and adaptation.

Very realistic. Airline is based on the economics and operating logic of real regional airlines, including:

• Route structures and demand variation
• Aircraft characteristics and financing choices
• Fuel price volatility
• Labor and service quality considerations

While simplified for teaching purposes, the cause-and-effect relationships closely resemble real airline operations

Airline can run from 6 to 12 simulated quarters, depending on your course schedule.
Most instructors choose:

• 8 quarters for a strong strategic arc, or
• 12 quarters to allow multiple seasonal demand cycles

Typically:

• 30–60 minutes per student per decision round
• More time early on as teams learn the interface and strategy
• Less time later once routines and roles are established

Team coordination is often the biggest time variable.

Students work in teams of 3–4, which is the recommended size for Airline.
Team-based decision-making mirrors real management environments and encourages:

• Role specialization
• Strategic debate
• Accountability and collaboration

Each period, teams make decisions in areas such as:

• Pricing and promotions
• Advertising and marketing expenses
• Fleet acquisition and financing
• Route scheduling and capacity
• Human resource policies
• Special strategic incidents (mini-cases)

These decisions collectively determine profitability, growth, and competitive position.

Yes. Airline includes a full suite of optional assignments, including:

• Income Statement (accrual)
• Balance Sheet
• Cash Flow Statement (optional)
• Checkbook (cash-based)

This helps them compare cash-based vs. accrual-based accounting.

Students can review:

• Local wages & turnover
• Competitor menus and prices
• Coffee quality comparisons
• Customer survey results
• Competitor branding (logos, ads, cups)

Yes. BizCafe uses realistic expenditures, including:

• Monthly rent ($2,000)
• Utility payments
• Manager & server wages
• Coffee & cup purchases
• Depreciation on equipment

This gives students a true picture of business cash flow.

Demand depends on:

• Price
• Ambiance
• Coffee quality
• Advertising & promotions
• Service speed (staff + equipment)
• Customer satisfaction

Yes. If they underestimate demand, the system automatically sources coffee or cups locally at higher cost, which reduces margins.

Instructors can enable “incidents,” which are short managerial scenarios requiring student responses. They simulate real-world dilemmas such as staffing issues, customer complaints, or operational mistakes.

Yes. Instructors can add:

• Auto-graded assignments
• Reflection questions
• Decision rationales
• Discussions around incidents

Yes — the Brewing a Business eBook Bundle integrates directly with the simulation and covers:

• Business foundations
• Ethics cases
• Mini-assignments
• Video interviews

Every instructor gets:

• A dedicated CRM contact
• Instructor onboarding
• Quick-start guides
• 24-business-hour support response