| Abstract [eng] |
The COVID-19 pandemic caused major disruptions in global aviation. U.S. airlines faced a sharp decline in demand, widespread travel restrictions, and operational uncertainty. This crisis revealed the industry's vulnerability to global shocks and underscored the need for flexible and resilient strategies. The main objective of this master's thesis is to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on aviation using the example of U.S. airlines and to evaluate the effects of implemented travel restrictions, COVID-19-related indicators, and economic factors on passenger and freight traffic as well as revenues. The thesis consists of three main parts: a review of scientific literature, the research methodology, and the empirical results. Conclusions and recommendations are also provided. The thesis examines the impact of the pandemic on U.S. international airline operations in the Atlantic, Latin America, and Pacific regions. The literature review addresses global studies on aviation trends, passenger and cargo flows, and the effects of COVID-19-related restrictions. The research design combines econometric modeling with comparative graphical analysis to investigate the pandemic's impact on U.S. airline operations in these regions. The methodology includes collecting official aviation data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics and international datasets related to COVID-19 case numbers, travel restrictions, and economic indicators. The empirical analysis revealed key regional differences. Latin America experienced a smaller decline in passenger traffic at the beginning of the pandemic, while strong cargo operations in the Pacific region helped maintain revenue stability. The Atlantic region demonstrated a balanced recovery in both passenger and freight sectors. Pricing strategies also varied: ticket prices were increased in response to capacity limitations and rising demand, while lower fares were used to stimulate operations. Freight rates rose sharply in response to global supply chain disruptions, especially in the Pacific region. |
