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Air Afrique: the demise of a continental icon

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  • Joseph Amankwah-Amoah
  • Yaw A. Debrah

Abstract

Although the rationale for multi-flag airlines' formation is rooted in contemporary strategic thinking, our understanding of their emergence and subsequent mass disappearances in the twentieth century remains an elusive issue. This article seeks to fill this void by examining the emergence, ascendency and demise of Air Afrique, an airline once seen as a symbol of regional integration in Africa. This examination takes a historical perspective and covers the period from 1961 to 2002. On the basis of this historical analysis, five distinct stages have been identified reflecting the firm's glorious days, precipitous decline and subsequent collapse. These are: the golden age; Africanisation; escalating indecision, escalating commitment and dissolution phases. Each phase provides insights into the deterministic and voluntaristic perspectives of organisational failure. The implications of the findings of this research for theory and practice are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Joseph Amankwah-Amoah & Yaw A. Debrah, 2014. "Air Afrique: the demise of a continental icon," Business History, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(4), pages 517-546, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:bushst:v:56:y:2014:i:4:p:517-546
    DOI: 10.1080/00076791.2013.809523
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    1. Jean Tirole, 1988. "The Theory of Industrial Organization," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 0262200716, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Li, Shenxue & Easterby-Smith, Mark & Hong, Jacky F.L., 2019. "Towards an understanding of the nature of dynamic capabilities in high-velocity markets of China," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 212-226.
    2. Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph, 2016. "An integrative process model of organisational failure," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(9), pages 3388-3397.
    3. Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph, 2014. "Coming of age, seeking legitimacy: The historical trajectory of African management research," MPRA Paper 63625, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph, 2015. "A unified framework for incorporating decision-.making into explanations of business failure," MPRA Paper 65896, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph, 2014. "Against all odds! Why the ‘three darlings’ failed?," MPRA Paper 63383, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph, 2017. "Human Capital Flows in Failing Organizations: An Integrated Conceptual Framework," MPRA Paper 80781, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Zhang, Hongxu & Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph & Beaverstock, Jonathan, 2019. "Toward a construct of dynamic capabilities malfunction: Insights from failed Chinese entrepreneurs," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 415-429.
    8. Joseph Amankwah‐Amoah & Johnny Syllias, 2020. "Can adopting ambitious environmental sustainability initiatives lead to business failures? An analytical framework," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(1), pages 240-249, January.
    9. Karabag, Solmaz Filiz, 2019. "Factors impacting firm failure and technological development: A study of three emerging-economy firms," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 462-474.
    10. Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph, 2017. "Cultivating greater self-confidence in African management research," MPRA Paper 79751, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 2017.
    11. Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph, 2020. "Stepping Up and Stepping Out of COVID-19: New Challenges for Environmental Sustainability Policies in the Global Airline Industry," MPRA Paper 101491, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph & Khan, Zaheer & Osabutey, Ellis L.C., 2021. "COVID-19 and business renewal: Lessons and insights from the global airline industry," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(3).
    13. Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph, 2019. "Opening Editorial: Multinational enterprises and business failures: A new research agenda," MPRA Paper 101145, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph, 2014. "Explanations for strategic persistence in the wake of others’ failures," MPRA Paper 63409, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    15. Williams, Allan M. & Rodríguez Sánchez, Isabel, 2024. "Knowledge mobility after tourism entrepreneurial failure: Life after death?," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    16. Giunipero, Larry C. & Denslow, Diane & Rynarzewska, Ania Izabela, 2022. "Small business survival and COVID-19 - An exploratory analysis of carriers," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    17. Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph & Zhang, Hongxu, 2014. "What can we learn from failed international companies?," MPRA Paper 63591, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 2014.
    18. Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph & Egbetokun, Abiodun & Osabutey, Ellis L.C., 2018. "Meeting the 21st century challenges of doing business in Africa," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 336-338.
    19. Button, Kenneth & Martini, Gianmaria & Scotti, Davide & Volta, Nicola, 2019. "Airline regulation and common markets in Sub-Saharan Africa," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 81-91.
    20. Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph & Zhang, Hongxu, 2015. "Business failure research," MPRA Paper 67848, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    21. Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph, 2016. "Emerging economies, emerging challenges: Mobilising and capturing value from big data," MPRA Paper 85625, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    22. Alexander Kücher & Stefan Mayr & Christine Mitter & Christine Duller & Birgit Feldbauer-Durstmüller, 2020. "Firm age dynamics and causes of corporate bankruptcy: age dependent explanations for business failure," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 14(3), pages 633-661, June.

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