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Comparison Of Northwest Airlines And American Airlines

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Comparison of Northwest Airlines and American Airlines

Globalization

Globalization can be defined as “making worldwide in scope or application”(1). In this comparison of the global corporate culture of Northwest Airlines and American Airlines several areas will be addressed. The strength of the global culture with-in the companies. The fit of the company to the global marketplace, and the adaptive ness or the empowerment of the employees will be examined and compared. Perhaps more important, than whether they currently have a global atmosphere, is whether they can improve or create this atmosphere. A comparison between the two airlines will be made on their mission statements, information dissemination, global-mindedness, …show more content…

Globalization in the airline industry may seem to be a natural flow of the business model. However, some companies have a better fit, or culture that lends itself to a smooth and prosperous integration into the global market. In comparing this integration into the global market one might take a historical look at American and Northwest. Both carriers were formed just after World War I, as mail carriers (3,4). Eventually both evolved into passenger carriers. Americans roots are traced to Charles Lindberg and the cities of Chicago and St Louis (4). Northwest also has its roots in Chicago, but their first routes went north to Minneapolis / St Paul (3). Northwest eventually evolved into Northwest-Orient Airlines and expanded its routes into Japan, being the first airline to make a profit in the Asian market without subsides (3). Northwest continued to globalize with their alliance with KLM Airlines and eventual expansion into the Netherlands (3). American, on the other hand, concentrated their growth in the Americas. With an extensive route system into Central and South America (4), American Airlines seems to have centered its expansion in the United States. A possible result of American’s expansion, or lack of expansion outside the U.S., might have reduced the artifacts that could have otherwise further enhanced their global culture mix and thus created a better

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