Contrails

The answers are: more sustainable; less stressful; and more of it.

This is despite social media revolutionising how we keep in touch, although one could argue that social media is simply prompting people to go see each other.

The survey found:

63 per cent of people worldwide say they will fly more by 2050;
60 per cent do not think social media will replace the need to see people face-to-face;
96 per cent believe aircraft will need to be more sustainable or ‘eco-efficient’;
Almost 40 per cent feel air travel (door-to-door) is increasingly stressful.

“Aviation is the real World Wide Web,” says Charles Champion, Airbus executive vice president, engineering.

“The results of the survey show that there is nothing better than face to face contact. The world is woven together by a web of flights that creates ever-expanding social and economic networks.

“Fifty-seven million jobs, 35 per cent of world trade, and US$2.2 trillion in global GDP.”

Mr Champion said that since Airbus launched the ‘Future by Airbus’ study, it had engaged with people in 192 countries in a dialogue about the future of air travel. This resulted in the revolutionary Airbus Concept Plane and Cabin which give a snapshot into some of the innovations that could meet evolving passenger trends and environmental considerations.

“It’s clear that people are really excited about the future of sustainable flight and we want them to be part of shaping that future,” said Mr Champion.
Other findings in the survey were;

86 per cent of people think less fuel burn is key

85 per cent thought a reduction in carbon emissions is critical

66 per cent want quieter aircraft and

65 per cent want aircraft which are fully recyclable

Mr Champion noted that “as more people fly more often, the greater their expectations will be for the ‘end-to-end passenger experience.”

The Airbus consultation highlights a predictable list of gripes that include: queues at passport control; slow check-in and baggage collection; sitting on the tarmac; and circling in holding patterns around airports.

“In London for example we’ve seen concern about queues at airports and people are understandably not happy about it,” Mr Champion said.
“But the reality is those capacity constraints are a sign of things to come unless the industry can work together to cut delays, and with aviation set to double in the next 15 years, that’s what we’re looking at.”

There is a very clear message in the survey that no matter what people want to travel.

But the key is to recognise how much passion people have to travel. You only have to look back in history to find that throughout the centuries travel for whatever reason has been in our DNA.

When air travel started in earnest the 1920s it was for the fool hardy or the incredibly rich. With the introduction of economy class by Pan Am in the 1950s it became the province of the upper middle class. Now it is within the reach of virtually everyone.

But people are not content with a trip every two years – they may take two or three or more trips a year because they can. Weddings in Bali for instance are becoming the norm and guests think nothing of flying to the event.

As the cost of air transport continues to decline in relation to CPI and average weekly earnings planners need to understand the passion to travel. People aren’t content with the once in a life time Women’s Weekly tour of the 1960s and 70s.

They want to travel constantly to see friends, relatives, a football game, catch some restaurants, shop and in fact any excuse to get on a plane.
Planners take note!