Reflection of Leadership Approaches on Job Satisfaction from the Cockpit to the Terminal

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the effects of different leadership styles—digital, transformational, and transactional leadership—on employee job satisfaction in the aviation industry today, as digital technologies are increasingly integrated into business processes. In this era, where digital technologies are being comprehensively integrated into business processes, leadership approaches are believed to play a significant role not only in operational efficiency but also in employee engagement and motivation. The research was designed as a quantitative study involving flight, cabin, terminal, and ground handling personnel working at an airport in Türkiye. Data were collected using a structured survey technique and scales used to measure leadership styles, digital leadership competencies, and job satisfaction levels. Confirmatory factor, correlation, and regression analyses were conducted using SPSS and AMOS software during the analysis phase. The findings reveal that digital and transformational leadership styles have a significant and positive impact on employee job satisfaction. However, the impact of transactional leadership style was limited. The results of the research demonstrate that leaders' digital competencies and transformational vision are key factors in increasing employee satisfaction and organizational commitment in the aviation industry. These findings both contribute theoretically to the literature and offer important practical recommendations for developing effective leadership strategies in the digital age. Future studies are recommended to examine leadership styles in conjunction with variables such as employee performance, organizational commitment, and burnout, and to conduct comparative research encompassing different airports and airlines.

Keywords

• Aviation Industry
• Leadership
• Job Satisfaction
• Aviation Management

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Istanbul Medipol University Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee pursuant to Decision No. 288 dated June 2, 2025.

Kokpitten Terminale Liderlik Anlayışlarının İş Tatminine Yansıması

Abstract

Bu çalışma, dijital dönüşümün hızlandığı günümüzde havacılık alanında farklı liderlik tarzlarının -dijital, dönüşümcü ve etkileşimci liderlik- çalışanların iş tatmini üzerindeki etkilerini araştırmayı hedeflemektedir. Dijital teknolojilerin iş süreçlerine kapsamlı bir şekilde entegre olduğu bu dönemde, liderlik yaklaşımlarının yalnızca operasyonel verimliliği değil, bununla beraber çalışanların bağlılıkları ve motivasyonları üzerinde de önemli bir rol oynadığı düşünülmektedir. Araştırma, Türkiye'deki bir havalimanında çalışan uçuş, kabin, terminal ve yer hizmetleri personelini içeren bir nicel çalışma olarak planlanmıştır. Veriler, yapılandırılmış anket tekniğiyle toplanmış ve liderlik tarzları, dijital liderlik yeterlilikleri ile iş tatmini düzeylerini ölçmeye yönelik ölçeklerden yararlanılmıştır. Analiz aşamasında SPSS ve AMOS yazılımlarından faydalanılarak doğrulayıcı faktör, korelasyon ve regresyon işlemleri gerçekleştirilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular, dijital ve dönüşümcü liderlik stillerinin çalışanların iş tatmini üzerinde anlamlı ve pozitif bir etki oluşturduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Bununla birlikte etkileşimci liderlik tarzının etkisi sınırlı kalmıştır. Araştırmanın sonuçları, havacılık sektöründe liderlerin dijital yetkinlikleri ile dönüşümcü vizyonlarının çalışan memnuniyetini ve kurumsal bağlılığı artırmada önemli bir faktör olduğunu göstermektedir. Bu bulgular hem literatüre teorik katkı sunmakta hem de dijital dönemde etkili liderlik stratejilerinin oluşturulmasına dair önemli pratik önerilerde bulunmaktadır. Gelecek çalışmalarda, liderlik tarzlarının çalışan performansı, örgütsel bağlılık ve tükenmişlik gibi değişkenlerle birlikte ele alınması ve farklı havalimanları ile havayolu işletmelerini kapsayan karşılaştırmalı araştırmaların yapılması önerilmektedir.

Keywords

• Havacılık Sektörü
• Liderlik
• İş Tatmini
• Havacılık Yönetimi

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışma için İstanbul Medipol Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Bilimsel Araştırmalar Etik Kurulu Komisyonu'nun 02.06.2025 tarih ve 288 sayılı kararı ile etik kurul onayı alınmıştır.

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