A Model of U.S. Airline Corporate Social Responsibility Practices

Lukas Rudari, Purdue University

Abstract

This study sought to explore the practice and motivation for engaging in corporate social responsibility practices of four major U.S. passenger airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines. ^ Based on material disclosure areas defined by the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board, the researcher first established the performance of these four airlines in airline-specific material corporate social responsibility metrics. Second, interviews were conducted with sustainability managers at Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines, to explore the motivation for engaging in corporate social responsibility practices and ascertain internal corporate structures related to corporate social responsibility practices. A three-dimensional 2x2x2 matrix model for U.S. airline corporate social responsibility practices was developed, showing the differences in corporate strategies toward corporate social responsibility practices between American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines. ^ The results suggested that differences exist in terms of corporate social responsibility performance, motivation, and corporate structures.^

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Mary E. Johnson, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Business administration|Organization theory|Transportation

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