You are advising a major airline that has grown passenger volumes over the last two years, but profitability has continued to fall. Leadership is concerned because the top-line story looks healthy, yet margins are compressing and investor pressure is rising. The airline operates a mix of domestic and international routes, serves both business and leisure travelers, and has recently faced changes in fuel prices, labor costs, route mix, and competitive pricing. Management wants a clear way to separate volume growth from value creation and identify where economics are breaking down.
How would you structure an investigation to identify the root cause?