How air travel might change in 20 years

Question: In your opinion, what will air travel look like 20 years from now? Will the FAA allow jets to cruise faster with shorter travel times? Regional jets dominating jumbo jets? Jets capable of vertical takeoffs and landings?

— racman302

Answer: In 20 years, I expect more fuel- efficient jets flying more direct routes to more destinations. Unfortunately, I don’t think we will see supersonic travel yet. ( I wish we would, but the economics are very difficult). If there are supersonic jets, the FAA hopefully will let them fly at the most efficient speed ( assuming the sonic boom problem is solved).

There will be large and small jets because there is a good business case for both of them. I do not think vertical takeoff and landing will be a part of commercial aviation in the foreseeable future.

Q: Why don’t carriers use wide- body/ jumbo aircraft on domestic routes? From an economics of scale perspective, wouldn’t it be more costeffective to run fewer flights with more passengers?

— Chris Wayne, GSP

A: Demand for more frequent flights in smaller airplanes is greater than a few large airplane flights. Passengers like the ability to fly during different times of day. While it might be more cost- effective, the demands of the market make smaller airplanes the choice for domestic flights.

Q: During holidays with increased passenger demand, do airlines consider using larger airplanes ( ex 777, 747) on domestic routes or just increase the number/ schedule of smaller aircraft?

— Brian, Georgia A: Airline scheduling departments carefully evaluate where they can use every seat. Airplanes such as the B777 and B747 are very good long- range airplanes, therefore they are more likely to be used on longer routes other airplanes couldn’t service. It is more common to add additional shorter- range airplanes on domestic routes in periods of high demand or to switch from a smaller narrowbody model such as a regional jet to a larger one such as an A320. Q: Is there any shape of a fuselage more efficient than the current cylinder used across pretty much every aircraft? What type of aviation design can we realistically look forward to in our future? — Cameron, Louisville

A: There is interest in the blended wing as a possible replacement for traditional airplanes. It is possible we will see that in the future. I suspect it will be for cargo airplanes first.

Efficiency continues to be the foremost desire in aircraft design. And I hope we will see a return to supersonic flight soon. That will be a new design.

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