Code sharing, joint fares, and competition in the regional airline industry

In the wake of airline deregulation, virtually all large jet carriers have entered into cooperative marketing agreements that involve shared designator codes and joint fares with commuter airlines. The paper examines the development of these agreements, the role they play in the competitive strategies of major and commuter airlines, and the implications of these agreements for the structure of the airline industry and for service to travelers to and from small communities.