The Federal Aviation Administration estimates that over 2.7 million people fly in and out of American airports each day.
Successful airlines are going to need to appeal to customers if they want to stay on top. And the easiest way to look appealing to customers is to have the most advanced services and benefits possible.
There are plenty of airline industry trends that show that flights are only going to get more efficient and innovative.
Are you interested in what’s new in the aviation industry? Here are our picks for airline trends you should pay attention to.
Airport and Airline Industry Trends: 6 Popular Innovations
Airline industry trends have been changing over time, and a lot of the technologies you use at home and at the office could transform the airline industry.
If you’re interested in what the flight of the future could look like, imagine airline workers and passengers using these 6 innovations.
1. Smart Gates
Airline passengers and employees both hate dealing with long lines. But today’s security measures and the sheer number of passengers can make long check-ins seem like an inevitability.
Smart gates could check in people in a matter of seconds. These airline gates could be used to scan tickets, process baggage tickets, check passports and generally make getting to flights faster and much more efficient.
Queues are the bane of the airport experience, but smart gates aim to dramatically reduce this issue by allowing passports and tickets to be processed quickly.
2. In-Flight Connectivity
Some airlines and may already offer this service and plenty of private jets have been upgraded so passengers can use the feature. Regardless, wi-fi is an absolute must for any airline in the future.
In the future, streaming services like Netflix or Hulu could partner with airlines and offer exclusive content for passengers. Sign-in pages could have ads for airline food, beverage, or parking services.
Wi-fi is also a perk plenty of passengers would be willing to pay extra for. You could easily increase revenue by adding his simple benefit.
3. Autonomous vehicles
Luggage transit is a huge part of airline travel. A lot goes into making sure things are properly handled before and after flights.
Imagine if you could take everyone that drives luggage transit vehicles and put them on more important tasks. Autonomous vehicles could make that dream a reality.
Vehicles that can drive themselves can easily get to and from pre-programmed terminals. They can be much faster than drivers, and less prone to errors.
4. Voice Technology
Passengers have plenty of questions when they’re on a flight. They may have questions about their arrival times or baggage claim. Some could just have simple questions about hotels or restaurants around their destination.
Airlines that utilize voice technology like Amazon Alexa or Google Home could find a new way to help their customers.
Voice apps could answer passenger questions, check passengers in, and help them find airport adjacent services.
5. Robotic Assistants
Navigating large airports can be stressful and difficult for passengers. The use of robot assistants can ensure that everyone gets the help they need, and help free up employee time.
Some airports in South Korea are already using robots to assist travelers, and so far it has been a rousing success.
The robots can be stationary, roam around like a human customer service representative, and can even lead people to their gates or other locations.
6. Smart Apps
Let’s say you’re a passenger and you need to grab a quick bite before your flight.
Instead of walking around the airport and trying to use a map, simply tell your app that you’re hungry and need something fast. Not only will you immediately get a list of fast food results in the airport, it could even lead you there.
You’re in flight and you could really use another soda. Instead of waiting for the flight attendants to come around, simply use your app to notify them.
Apps with location services could help airline passengers easily find restaurants, restrooms, gates, and more. They could even help improve communication with passengers and flight attendants.
The Flight of the Future Today
Airline industry trends show that flights are about to get a lot more efficient. If you don’t want to wait for commercial airlines to catch up, it may be time to consider getting your own private air travel.
Are you ready to a private plane of your own? Do you have questions about the airline industry? Contact us today so we can help.
