Aviation: a sector primed for change

Just last week, newspapers and online outlets carried reports of the latest ‘disruptive passenger’ story, when an individual had to be restrained from an alcohol fuelled rage on a Ryanair flight to Rhodes.

Such tales have become alarmingly frequent, with the International Airlines Transport Association (IATA) identifying 24,500 incidents in a single year across 50 airlines. That equates to one in every 480 flights being disrupted.

And when you think about what that means in practice, the economic cost is significant. Hundreds of thousands of individual journeys are impacted, there are diversion costs, and passengers are put up in hotels… it’s no wonder that some are calling for a two-drink limit at airports.

But this debate goes deeper. Consumer habits are changing, and those involved in the sector – airlines and airports – are either leading that change or responding to it. There is a clear benefit to be had by being on the front foot, which is why our latest insight report focuses on evolving habits.

The Future of Aviation draws on research, bespoke data and industry insight, to provide a snapshot of the changes, challenges and opportunities facing a sector that contributes £24bn to UK GDP and employs over 370,000 people.

While apparent consumer backing for an alcohol limit at airports is the headline statistic from our report, the opportunities provided by data are nuanced and varied. It is only by understanding the evolving habits of the nation that we can equip ourselves to deal with change, mitigate potential negative impacts, and capitalise on the benefits.

To read the full report, click on our insights section here.