Airlines turn digital due to Covid
SINGAPORE: The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated airlines’ digital uptake as carriers look for ways to reduce human touchpoints. But that push has had another impact, too. It’s reduced cabin weight, and that can mean big cost savings.
Singapore Airlines Ltd’s lowcost carrier Scoot on Thursday said it’s introducing an inflight system called ScootHub that customers can access via their mobile devices to order food, drinks, duty-free and other services. It estimates the move will not only reduce paper consumption by more than 156 metric tonnes but cut annual carbon dioxide emissions by over 41 tonnes and save more than 13 tonnes of fuel.
Covid-19 has also prompted British Airways to remove printed copies of its signature inflight magazine, in circulation for more than half a century.
Now, the magazine is available as a free download on passengers’ personal devices, helping British Airways trim a significant amount of weight, according to Inmarsat Aviation.
“The pandemic has given airlines an impetus to leverage digital solutions more extensively as a means to reduce common passenger touchpoints, with weight reduction being an additional benefit,” Inmarsat Aviation Vice
President Asia Pacific, David Coiley, said. And anything that reduces costs in aviation right now is a good thing. Managing expenses is critical for airlines battling the economic impact of the pandemic. Carriers globally have let go of hundreds of thousands of staff and industry losses are now expected to be around $118.5 billion in 2020, according to the International Air Transport Association.