IT Trends in Airline Industry

The International Air Transport Association claims that 2020 was the worst year ever for the aviation sector. While many players in this industry are still trying to recover from the COVID-induced chaos, the crisis has intensified and called for technological changes that address the pressing problems the sector will face in the post-COVID era. Let's examine the information technology advancements that are expected to usher in a new form of flight for the year.

Sustainability

The pressure on the aviation industry to contribute to the fight against climate change has intensified as a result of the significant difference in several environmental measures that came about as a result of the majority of global aviation coming to a complete halt for much of 2020. Information technology will be at the forefront of bringing about those improvements, and it can make a significant difference similar to how eco-friendly biofuels are discovered. To cut down on energy use and carbon emissions, many airlines, including Southwest, have already made the switch to paperless tickets and are continuing to make comparable improvements to their ramp operations and reservation systems. It also applies to production and business operations. Several of the aforementioned technologies will come together to assist the aviation sector to?become decarbonized, drastically boost fuel economy, and decrease waste.

IoT and Cloud Technology

Like many other industries, aviation is transitioning entirely to the cloud. This has numerous other concrete advantages in addition to lowering the most divisive carbon impact. First off, the infrastructure for the plethora of IoT-enabled gadgets that are already being placed around airports will be cloud-based networks. Improved security is just one benefit of the capacity to track the passenger all the way through the check-in and boarding procedures on one's own. Second, airport operations itself are expensive. IoT-enabled sensor-based PoE lighting can result in significant cost savings with even the smallest efficiency improvement.

AI and Machine Learning

The aforementioned linked devices (together with the data they send to the cloud) will serve as the foundation for artificially intelligent algorithms to filter through trillions of gigabytes of data and discover useful operational insights. The manufacture of aircraft is likewise benefited from the insights provided by machine learning. For example, GE employs machine learning and data analytics to pinpoint engine issues, extending component life and lowering maintenance costs. Contrarily, Boeing has developed effective machine-learning algorithms for designing aircraft and automating industrial processes.

Smart Airports

The "new normal" has forced the aviation industry to evolve. This has led to the maximum amount of contactless and digital technology being used in airports. For instance, several airports have already transformed the check-in procedure to reduce face-to-face contact. Automated kiosks have replaced conventional check-in counters in many airport sites nowadays, and digital signage directs passengers through the boarding procedure.

In-Flight Connectivity

While many of the innovations we've discussed thus far are intended to boost operational effectiveness or capacity, IT advancements will continue to serve various client preference trends. One of those industries is in-flight entertainment. Consumers now expect complex seat-back computers to execute complex processes simultaneously at hundreds of seats rather than wanting them. Airlines are therefore rushing this year to make sure that their in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems are compatible with what customers are expecting. Included in that are systems with hundreds of movies and TV shows to pick from, compatibility with smartphones and tablets (with USB-C charging), interactive maps, surround-sound audio, and, of course, in-flight wireless connectivity.