Leadership Styles as Perceived in the Changing Aviation Industry and their Effect on Pilot Commitment: A Kenyan Case Study

Authors

  • Angeliki Papasava School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Hull
  • Ben B. Njeru MBA from the University of Roehampton London Online.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47697/lds.35360088

Keywords:

transformational leadership, transactional leadership, aviation industry, airline, pilots, affective commitment, continuance commitment

Abstract

This study focuses on a Kenyan-based airline and investigates how leadership influences the commitment of its pilots. The need for this study emerged from the changes that affected the aviation industry in the past years, including COVID-19, political unrest, fluctuation of oil prices, and supply chain disruptions. Deregulations also impacted well-established state airlines. The aim of this study is to find ways to improve the performance and commitment of pilots, whose demand generally does not match supply. The theoretical framework examines transformational and transactional leadership modified from MLQ (5X) and the Allen and Meyer three-component model of commitment. The study utilises a mixed method approach and obtains empirical findings that support theory. The study also reveals that job embeddedness has a significant influence on pilots’ retention rates. The study recommends the adoption of academically supported solutions, including the movement from transactional leadership to transformational leadership for state airline leaders.

Author Biographies

Angeliki Papasava, School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Hull

Dr. Angeliki Papasava SFHEA, is an academic and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in teaching Management related courses at various university levels both face-to-face and online, at a number of European, Asian, African and American institutions. She has completed a PhD at the International School of Management, started her own companies and worked for ICT multinationals. Her teaching and managerial roles include dissertation supervision, responsibility for curriculum development and partnership initiatives with a number of universities. She is the Programme Director of the MSc in Engineering Management at the University of Hull Online.

Ben B. Njeru, MBA from the University of Roehampton London Online.

Ben B Njeru has worked as a pilot with a global flying experience of 15 years and has a keen interest in leadership. He has an MBA from the University of Roehampton London Online.

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Published

2022-12-31

How to Cite

Papasava, A., & Njeru, B. B. (2022). Leadership Styles as Perceived in the Changing Aviation Industry and their Effect on Pilot Commitment: A Kenyan Case Study. Leadership and Developing Societies, 7(1), 85–108. https://doi.org/10.47697/lds.35360088

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 1 (2022)

Section

RESEARCH ARTICLES