政治及經濟因素對美國西北航空公司東亞航線網絡之影響

Abstract

美國西北航空曾於1947年至2010年間飛行美國至東亞地區之航線，並於此建立相當大的航線網絡。西北航空於1950年起經營臺灣航線，但是臺灣並不在西北航空原先的航線網絡計畫之中。第二次世界大戰後，西北航空於東亞的航線網絡長期受到美國及東亞各國之間複雜的政治、軍事、外交及經濟等因素影響。因此，本研究試圖分析上述因素如何影響西北航空於東亞的航線網絡，並且探討臺灣於西北航空航線網絡中之角色。 研究結果顯示，不同的年代有不同的因素影響西北航空的航線網絡。自1940年代至1960年代間，受到多起戰爭及圍堵共產勢力的影響，可將其歸類為政治及軍事之因素。1970年代至1980年代之間，則受到國際情勢的改變，可將之歸類為外交之因素。1980年代後，由於全球航空業逐漸自由化，使得航空公司在決策上擁有更多的自主權。因此，經濟因素逐漸成為最主要的影響因子。上述結果，有助於瞭解外籍航空公司於東亞地區的發展。至於臺灣於西北航空航線網絡之角色，主要受到臺灣航線長期獲利效益不高，同時更受到臺灣航空業者的強烈競爭，使得臺灣一直並非西北航空的重點發展地區，但是為了保持西北航空於亞洲航線網絡分布的完整性，臺灣對西北航空而言仍為一個重要的市場。Northwest Airlines operated one of the largest international route networks in East Asia from 1947 to 2010. Although Taiwan became one of its stops in Asia since 1950, it was not in the original network plan. The complex political, military, diplomatic and economic relationships between Taiwan, China, the U.S.A and other East Asian countries deeply affected airlines development and route network after the Second World War. The aim of this research attempts to analyze how these factors affected Northwest Airlines’ route network, and to understand the development of Northwest Airlines in Asia. Moreover, this research also analyzes Taiwan’s position in Northwest Airlines’ route network. The results suggest that many various factors played different roles throughout time. From the late 1940s to 1960s, Northwest Airlines’ route network was affected significantly by political and military factors because of wars and containment of communist forces. From the 1970s to the 1980s, with the international situation changing rapidly, diplomatic factor played an important role. After the 1980s, the airlines industry became less restricted, which enabled airlines to make decisions based upon the market instead of political interference. Therefore, economic factor has become more important than before. These findings have implications for understanding foreign airlines business development in East Asia rather than local airlines. As to Taiwan, due to unprofitableness and strong competitive with local carriers, Taiwan was not a focus city, but in order to keep integrity of Northwest route network in East Asia, Taiwan was still an important market.