In a recent study conducted by travel technology company Amadeus, aviation leaders shed light on the persistent challenges faced by airlines and airports amidst heightened levels of flight disruption. As demand for air travel surges and operational hurdles persist, the industry grapples with the need for improved response strategies to minimize the impact on passengers.
The study, titled ‘Better together: Rethinking how to manage disruption in aviation‘, delves into the perspectives of senior airline and airport executives, revealing key insights into the current landscape and strategies moving forward.
ICAO (International Civil Aviation Authority), defines a flight disruption as “situations where a scheduled flight is cancelled, or delayed for two hours or more, within 48 hours of the original scheduled departure time”
According to industry data provider Infare, flight disruption remains significantly above historical norms, with schedule changes indicating a 300% increase. This trend underscores the urgency for effective solutions amid a backdrop of skills shortages and a rapid resurgence in air travel demand globally.
Survey results reflect an ongoing sentiment among industry leaders, with a majority acknowledging an uptick in disruption compared to pre-pandemic levels. With expectations of continued elevated disruption, stakeholders are prioritising action to mitigate its effects.
According to Amadeus’ study, airport leaders identified a lack of common technology as a primary challenge in managing disruptions, along with the timely provision of information from airlines. Recognising the need for collaborative efforts, airports are strategizing investments in technology to enhance operational control centers for better disruption management.
Key findings from the study include:
- 64% of airlines are channeling resources into new technology to enhance their response to disruption.
- The top reason for airline investment was to ‘improve our public image’ at 70%, well ahead of ‘to reduce costs’ at 34%
- Both airlines and airports emphasise the need for closer integration of operational systems and collaborative platforms to achieve a holistic view of disruption management. Challenges such as information silos and last-minute provision of data persist, prompting concerted efforts towards technological advancements.
- Airport leaders are proactively investing in technology at their Operational Control Centers to bolster their capacity to manage disruption effectively, with a quarter planning to do so within the next 12 months.
- A third of airport leaders pointed to ‘last minute provision of information from airlines’ as a persistent challenge.
Holger Mattig, SVP Product Management at Amadeus Airport & Airline Operations, underscores the necessity for industry-wide collaboration to address the complexity of disruption. He emphasises the shared commitment to delivering a more seamless and traveler-centric approach empowered by technology.
“Disruption is a hugely complex problem that requires airlines, airports, ground handlers and others to work collaboratively,” said Mattig. “Unfortunately, we still have too many information silos in aviation, which impacts the overall response and ultimately passengers. However, I do sense a real determination across the industry to put historic commercial tensions to one side and deliver a better, more joined-up and traveler-centric approach to disruption that’s empowered by shared technology.”
The study also highlights various initiatives aimed at enhancing passenger experience, cost reduction, and reputational management. Insights gleaned from interviews with industry leaders unveil ongoing projects focused on re-accommodation strategies, trip planning optimization, and operational coordination among stakeholders.
