IATA Chief Reveals Vision for Enhanced Air Travel

Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s new Director General and CEO.

More efficient and less intrusive security checks, enriched air travel shopping options, a single order record to include all reference numbers for the trip, accurate real-time information and single identity verification are just some of the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) plans to facilitate air travel and enable aviation to successfully accommodate a near doubling in demand for air travel over the next two decades.

IATA estimates that approximately 7.2 billion air trips will take place in 2035, up from 3.8 billion in 2016. The changes come under IATA’s Simplifying the Business (StB) program, which examines the passenger experience across all processes, from shopping for travel and the airport experience, to arriving at the destination.

“My dream journey through the airport would offer security processes that are both effective and convenient, constant communication that makes me aware of changes to my journey or opportunities nearby, and a more efficient way of identifying myself to the airline, security staff and border management,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s new Director General and CEO, during the World Passenger Symposium in Dubai on Monday.

“Partnerships are vital to meeting passenger demands with safe, secure, efficient and sustainable connectivity,” he underlined.

However, De Juniac was quick to warn that there may be “an infrastructure crisis that will impact air travelers” up ahead.

“Inadequate infrastructure negatively impacts the passenger experience in the form of flight delays, longer routes and inefficient schedules. Then there is the cost to economies of lost business opportunities, employment and social development. Remember aviation is a critical catalyst for economic and social development, supporting 63 million jobs and some $2.7 trillion in economic impact.”

“The pace of change is accelerating. Keeping up is a major challenge for an industry whose first priority always must be safety. Safety is not measured by speed… Passenger needs, however, evolve much more quickly. And it is real race to meet their expectations,” he concluded.