Aviation forward
A member of the industry gives a lowdown of what’s in store for 2020
2019 brought a challenging period for the aviation industry. Boeing MAX grounding, airline bankruptcies and other important events made a huge impact on the annual results. However, positive news like the fact that 2019 was the safest in the last ve years brightened up the day.
Based on the outcome of last year, certain expectations have been set for 2020. ey are served by a number of trends that are to appear on the horizon of this ever-changing, inherently demanding industry.
PASSENGER-FOCUSED SOLUTIONS
Airports and airlines are now focusing on passenger-oriented rather than product-based decision making processes. e adoption of the newest technologies are helping the companies meet the customers’ demands and personalise their ying experience onboard and at the airport.
New technologies have been implemented accross check-in, baggage screening, security and customs processes. Networks like 5G have also been integrated in order to provide greater connectivity and customer choice. e airports and airlines are taking the desires of the millennial and generation Z audience into account by o ering ‘local’, ‘Instagrammable’ meals too.
SUSTAINABLE OPTIONS
Considering aviation’s total contribution to climate change, the biggest and most signi cant one comes from carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from aircra.
In order to reduce the carbon footprint when aircra are taxiing, lighter airframe components and trials are taking place on the ground.
With an aim to introduce passengers to the reality of it and the improvements that can be made, there will be monitors installed in the aircra to show amounts of real-time CO2 emissions.
However, new power and ight systems’ integration is not possible with the current aircra designs. Greener tomorrow requires reviewing absolutely all business processes from rethinking of aircra design and airframes to their operation and in ight services.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
In order to improve e ciencies and maintain high levels of security, arti cial intelligencebased systems will be adopted by airlines.
Virtual assistants and chatbots will take the customer services and ight bookings to another level. Automated processes will decrease the need of human resources and the queuing times will be reduced by involving facial recognition so ware. In order to improve the ride to the airport and the confusing experience in it, robotic assistants will be there to help passengers.
BIOMETRICS
Although the adoption of biometrics is yet at the early stage in the aviation industry, the rst step has already been taken. Airlines and airports have started investing in facial recognition and ngerprint technolog y with several trial runs that have already been carried out. e areas where this technology has been tested in include check-in, security as well as lounge access and boarding.
e main aim for this is to reduce security lines speeding up the passengers’ boarding process, which leads to reducing the need for sta . In the long run, as facial, ngertip or even palm-vein recognition emerges, paper-less and mobile boarding passes will become a reality. Incorporating these technologies would be signi cantly bene cial for all – passengers, airports and airlines.
In conclusion, rising customer expectations along with innovative technology implementation and other relevant solutions set 2020 to be a transformational year for aviation. It is forecast for the sector to have a net pro t growth again this year, however for the market players to achieve that and evolve, it’s essential that all are prepared to adapt to the predicted trends of 2020.
Based on the outcome of last year, certain expectations have been set for 2020