Top 9 Post-Covid Trends in Aviation Management: A Road to Recovery

A career in Aviation Management is one of the lucrative career options for young graduates and early-career professionals who strive to step up the corporate hierarchy.

However, the impact of the covid-19 pandemic can’t be understated for an industry like Aviation that is a backbone for the travel industry for obvious reasons.

Here are the top 9 trends that you must know before taking your first step in the ever-evolving business of Aviation Management.

1. Airport Ownership Transition

The ownership and management of airports are undergoing a rapid transition from public to a public-private partnership, to a concession-based operator on behalf of the owner, and finally to fully private airports. This creates opportunities for larger investments towards airport development and in turn, allows suppliers to penetrate deeper into the market with both existing and new products.

2. Airport Cities, Aerotropolis

Airports are transforming into a social hub where passengers can meet, rest, and experience a continually-expanding array of airport services. Suppliers that form partnerships with service providers that diversify into the airport industry can introduce new platforms that can integrate with other sectors and provide a seamless and connected array of services.

3. Location-based Services

Targeted marketing, including information on store location and discounts in the airport, together with new purchasing models such as online purchases and offsite delivery of goods, will lead to increased non-aeronautical revenues for airports.

4. Consolidation

In the face of airport expansion and growing competition among suppliers, suppliers are consolidating their position in the industry by pushing their products into existing markets to gain a sizable market presence.

5. Digital Security

State-of-the-art technology has been used to develop advanced concepts such as “walk through security” to reduce passenger wait times, while biometrics can be used to automate verification processes and reduce staffing.

Security systems have rapidly become a major trend in airports. Suppliers have moved swiftly to incorporate cyber-security services into their IT solutions.

6. Self-Operation

The evolution of passenger operations will lead to passengers performing all services from check-in to boarding the flight on their own. This will help to optimize resources, cut down on operating costs, and enhance non-aeronautical revenue.

Suppliers have developed new standardized products that enable such services including self-service platforms and e-boarding. Additionally, passengers will be able to manage their travel, including monitoring their baggage.

7. Traffic Growth

Driven by the emerging middle class, passenger traffic has doubled every 15 years. Forecasts have confirmed that this trend will continue. This results in the necessity to upgrade airport infrastructure.

The Asia-Pacific region has witnessed a booming air-travel population. As a result, suppliers have targeted this region to gain market presence, thus presenting growth opportunities.

8. Digital Transformation

The level of digitalization in airports is growing quickly and it supports trends such as increasing automation and targeted passenger services.

This will lead to a connected airport where the control centre has visibility across all operations and can better monitor and manage performance against key performance indicators (KPIs).

The supplier provides a range of analytic services that integrate with all airport operations and engages airport operators to find ways to provide seamless connectivity throughout the airport.

9. Green Airports

With high standards to limit noise and air pollution, airports will increasingly focus on generating energy through renewable sources and improving energy management solutions.