Purpose: Although the role of information has been previously studied in the ethical consumer literature, practices related to information searches and interpretation have not been fully examined in relation to ethical consumption. The purpose of this paper is to explore the search and use of information by ethically oriented consumers in order to understand the problems involved in this process, and how ethical consumers address them by adopting a number of practices. Design/methodology/approach: Using a qualitative approach and diaries, the paper explores how consumers carry out their informational search and interpretation over an 11-week period. Findings: First, insights are provided about the specifics of information search and the contexts, timing and use of information. Second, the information management practices used by participants to navigate the problems they encounter are identified. These practices are discussed in relation to the maximizing vs optimizing approach adopted by the participants. Practical implications: New technologies, such as mobile applications and geo-localization, could overcome some of the problems inherent to information searches identified in this study. The use of social networks may also prove particularly interesting for companies and NGOs that target ethically oriented consumers. Originality/value: Information search and the use and interpretation of information are part of the efforts undertaken by ethical consumers, but they have not been the focus of past research. This study provides empirical evidence on consumer practices employed to circumvent the problems found in a context of information asymmetries, and the gradual development of consumer skills in relation to ethical information searches and management. It shows how information search and management shapes the practice of ethical consumption.

It is important to examine profitability in the aviation sector and the factors that may affect it, due to their relevance for the airlines’ survival. The main purpose of this paper is to analyse the effect of three internal business characteristics,namely labour costs, labour productivity and company size, on airlines’ profitability, considering the airline type as a moderating effect. We have collected data of 190 European airlines during a 10-year period (2004–2013) which allowed us to create an unbalanced panel of 1,364 observations. Four types of airlines are considered. Results show that cost per employee has a positive influence on economic performance, especially for major carriers and regional carriers. It is also confirmed that the carrier type influences the relationship between labour costs, labour productivity and company size on the one hand, and economic returns on the other. These findings are relevant as they improve our understanding of economic profitability in different airlines’ types.