Hard Landing: The Epic Contest for Power and Profits That Plunged the Airlines into Chaos [Paperback]

Thomas Petzinger Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 24, 1996

In this updated paperback edition of a "rich, readable, and authoritative" Fortune) book, Wall Street Journal reporter Petzinger tells the dramatic story of how a dozen men, including Robert Crandall of American Airlines, Frank Borman of Eastern, and Richard Ferris of United, battled for control of the world's airlines. 416 pp. Radio drive-time pubilcity. 20,000 print.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Petzinger, a reporter and editor for the Wall Street Journal, presents a thorough analysis of the growth of the airline industry from the 1930s to the present. He demonstrates in a highly detailed manner the competitive nature of the airline business in such notable battles as those between Robert Crandall (American) and Dick Ferris (United) and between Frank Lorenzo (Texas International) and Herb Kelleher (Southwest). Fueled by the big egos of their respective bosses, the major airlines fell into a financial abyss trying to serve the maximum number of passengers and destinations, only to face rising fuel, labor, and operating costs as well as rising debt?while Southwest Airlines became a model of success and profitability. Petzinger exposes the men behind airline growth and competition, computerization, deregulation, strikes, mergers, and bankruptcies and covers current alliances such as the one between KLM and Northwest. Recommended for public libraries.?William A. McIntyre, New Hampshire Technical Coll. Lib., Nashua
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Most books (and there are usually two or three new ones a year) on the airline industry treat it as a single entity, describing the effects of deregulation or strikes or fluctuating oil prices. Or else these books profile a specific airline, personifying it by its controversial or flamboyant owner or CEO. Petzinger, though, combines both approaches. He portrays the airline industry as a boy's club run by only a handful of egotistical, ambitious, and arrogant men. Petzinger, once a baggage handler for United Airlines and now Wall Street Journal reporter and editor, colorfully chronicles the changing alliances and enmities of these men as they battle to "win at any cost" and change the way the world travels. David Rouse --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 624 pages
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press; 1 edition (December 24, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812928350
• ISBN-13: 978-0812928358
• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 1.4 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #117,777 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mr. Petzinger handles a complex subject very, very well., April 13, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Hard Landing (Hardcover)

As an airline professional with one of the carriers covered extensively in the book, I was skeptical as to whether any author could present a clear picture of the industry's inner workings. "Complex" is somehow an inadequate word when applied to the airline industry, especially since Deregulation. Mr. Petzinger, however, has succeeded not only in telling the story; he has done so in an entertaining style which makes for a fascinating and highly informative trip through all of the turmoil wrought by deregulation. The reader comes away with an understanding of the cause and effect of every relevant force affecting the airline business over the last few decades. This, combined with a comprehensive overview of the industry's formative years, makes this book a treasure. The book would be a 10 except for a couple of minor research errors. The content, however, is outstanding and compels me to use an overused cliche: this really is a must-read for everyone in the industry and anyone with even a passing interest in the airline business.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I wish I hadn't read this book..., January 30, 2003

By 

Todd Chapman (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hard Landing: The Epic Contest for Power and Profits That Plunged the Airlines into Chaos (Paperback)

because I would love to go through the experience of reading it for the first time again.
I work in the Airline Industry in Australia in an operational role that has aspects of Industrial Relations associated with it. To read a book that relates so many interesting and insightful stories into the trials and tribulations of De-reg in the US and the power plays between the various airlines and the Unions was nothing but fascinating.
Well researched, well written and very enjoyable. I recomend it to anyone employed or aspiring to airline management

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great but not an orderly comprehensive work, January 24, 2000

By 

Miguel Hidalgo (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hard Landing: The Epic Contest for Power and Profits That Plunged the Airlines into Chaos (Paperback)

This is one of the best books to read among all the 'tell-all' novels about airlines and their managers. Unfortunately, Petzinger zig zags around characters and events that become confusing and annoying. Many of the significant facts are lost as a result and the reader must go back to truly understand particular concepts and processes of airline management.

Another problem is that the author does a tremendous job explaining the history and ramifications of what the airlines and their managers did, but only takes one small chapter at the end to explain the future of the airline industry and its new leaders.

For the size and comprehensiveness of the book, a few more pages devoted to his best estimates for the future would have only made it perfect.