WHAT’S THE FUTURE OF AIRLINES AND AVIATION? FROM AIRPLANES TO AIRPORTS, INNOVATION TAKES FLIGHT

The airline industry is poised for major changes and innovation in the coming years and decades. Advances in aircraft technology, sustainable fuels, automation, and passenger experiences will shape the future of aviation.

Electric and hybrid-electric aircraft are on the horizon for short-haul flights. Companies like Eviation are developing all-electric commuter planes that could enter service as soon as 2026. These planes have a range of up to 650 miles on a single charge thanks to advances in high energy density batteries. Electric aviation provides major environmental and operating cost benefits over traditional fossil fuels. While technology needs to mature before we see all-electric long-haul flights, sustainable aviation fuels will fill that gap.

Sustainable aviation fuels derived from biofuels, synthetic oils, and other renewable sources have the potential to drastically reduce carbon emissions from long-haul flights this decade. With development partnerships between airlines and fuel providers ramping up, sustainable fuel could meet 10% or more of global aviation fuel demand by 2030. United Airlines, for example, recently invested in a synthetic fuel production facility in California.

Artificial intelligence and other automation will also improve safety, reduce costs, and enhance the passenger experience. AI can optimize airline operational efficiency in areas like pricing, revenue management, predictive maintenance, flight planning, and aircraft turnaround times. Automated, AI-powered passenger services like baggage handling, check-in, and airport transfers will be more convenient and seamless.

And of course changes to aircraft cabins and in-flight connectivity will make travel more immersive. Curved screens, virtual and augmented reality, higher-bandwidth connectivity, and networked entertainment will transform aircraft interiors. Elevated passenger expectations and airlines’ need to differentiate will drive this next generation experience while air travel continues growing globally in the long run.

The future of air travel will be shaped by sustainability, technology, experiences, and continued growth. From batteries and biofuels to automation and entertainment, airlines have exciting innovations in store to make aviation smarter, cleaner, safer, and more enjoyable over the next 20 years and beyond. The flight of the future promises to take passengers places in revolutionary new ways both inside the cabin and operationally behind the scenes.