CAPACITY UTILIZATION AND CORPORATE RESILIENCE OF AVIATION INDUSTRY IN NIGERIA

This study examines the relationship between capacity utilization and corporate resilience of aviation industry in Nigeria, with a focus on the moderating role of organizational size. Using a correlational research design, the study explores how the dimensions of capacity utilization—labor utilization and technological utilization—affect the measures of corporate resilience, namely adaptability and risk mitigation. A total of 303 respondents were sampled from a population of 1,254 management staff in domestic airlines, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The findings, analyzed using Spearman rank correlation, revealed significant positive relationships between labor utilization and adaptability (r = .534, p < .01) as well as risk mitigation (r = .693, p < .01). Similarly, technological utilization significantly correlated with adaptability (r = .708, p < .01) and risk mitigation (r = .629, p < .01). Furthermore, organizational size was found to moderate the relationship between capacity utilization and corporate resilience, indicating that larger firms benefit more from capacity optimization due to their financial strength and resource availability, while smaller firms require strategic alliances to enhance resilience. These results highlight the critical role of optimizing labor, technology, and organizational size to strengthen resilience in a volatile and high-risk sector like aviation. The study concludes that prioritizing capacity utilization strategies, alongside leveraging organizational size, can enhance the adaptability and risk management capabilities of aviation firms in Nigeria. Recommendations include workforce training, technological innovation, strategic resource planning, and leveraging organizational size for improved resilience.