To Analyse the Feasibility of Business Diversification as a Mitigation Strategy to Compensate Impact of GCC Crisis Within Aviation Industry: A Case Study on Qatar Airways

Abstract

Due to the constant change in the geopolitical and diplomatic situations of the world, many countries are living in crisis. This report focused on the current GCC crisis where 4 Arabic counties (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt) decided to cut tie with Qatar, suspend air connectivity to and from Qatar, and ban Qatar Airways from using their airspace. This diplomatic rift has impacted business organisations in the region particularly aviation industry. Hence, this study highlights the consequences of the crisis and its impact on the airline business in the Gulf region.

In order to establish a deep understanding of the mitigation tools to tackle a crisis, the author has investigated whether business diversification can be used as a mitigation strategy to minimise the effect of the GCC crisis. Academically, not many scholars have evaluated the link between the crisis and business diversification, and that fact is one of the key motivators behind this case study. However, the author used vast a verity of literature reviews from well-recognised academics and authors to analyse both variables crisis and business diversification.

This case study is conducted on Qatar Airways as it is the most impacted airline in the blockade. Thus, the main sources of data presented in this research are collected from secondary sources such as interviews that have taken place with the GCEO of Qatar Airways Akbar al Baker. In addition to various document and articles published by reputed business and news agencies.