A VIAT ION


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The airline industry has been subject to disruptive forces for decades. But what has this meant for passengers, and is it time for us to rethink our expectations of air travel?


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hen we hear about disruption in aviation, we tend to think of lost luggage, flight delays or cancellations. However, disruption can also have a wider meaning for the aviation industry and business in general. Disruption displaces established


practices and challenges the status quo. As Uber did for taxis, Airbnb for hospitality and Amazon for retail, new business models also subject the aviation industry to disruption. Te difference is, unlike Uber, Airbnb and Amazon – whose rise came with the evolution of the internet and digital technology – disruption for airlines has been happening for longer and for several reasons. It has had many positive effects for travellers, and some negative ones; but to understand where things are heading, it’s necessary to remind ourselves how we got to where we are today, and why airlines oſten seem unprepared.


RULES AND REGULATIONS Generally speaking, airlines aren’t fond of change – yet if the events of this century are any indication, change in aviation is inevitable. In the “Future of Airline Industry 2035” report, IATA (the International Air Transport Association) points out that, “As arguably the most global of industries, the externalities international air transport faces are numerous. Te winds of change buffeting the industry can come from many directions.” Take the enormous cost of capital investment, add


complex levels of regulation and the omnipresent influence busin e s s t r a ve lle r . c o m


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