The effects of Covid-19 and the resulting standstill in air traffic are well known. But which developments can we expect in the future? What will airports and aircraft look like in the future? Even if we are already quite carefree about the pandemic in our everyday lives, some innovations are necessary and to be expected (if not already introduced) that will affect us when we fly.

Passenger numbers are rising, air traffic is increasing again. Passenger and flight cancellations of almost 100% are currently a thing of the past again, but all airlines are under pressure to fill their planes.

Will prices continue to fall, or will there be an increase in price to cover additional costs? Will there be the same number of offers and will all destinations be possible?

There are already cheap offers again – the airlines are under pressure to fill their planes and new low-cost airlines have already been founded. In the medium term, however, prices could rise: a reduction in offers is expected, the extra expense for corona protection must be paid. And the increase of the ticket tax – especially short-haul flights up to about 300 km distance are to be taxed additionally with 30 EUR (one-way) is being. Discussions about CO2 emissions and the cancellation of short-haul flights or switching to rail are also an issue.

How is the security situation? What protective measures have already been taken or are still necessary?

An airport is a mass operation of passengers, visitors and staff employed – coming and going in crisscross fashion, queues at check-in, dense crowds in front of the security check, narrow waiting zones in front of the gates, in the feeder buses and finally on the plane itself.

The “3-G rule” of course also applies here. Corona quick tests are offered virtually at the gate: the test can be carried out for a small fee and the result is available within three to six hours. Premium services for passengers are created in order to avoid waiting times and passenger congestion.

Passenger data and seat allocation are becoming even more important to make infection traceable. Mandatory protective masks for passengers and employees, plexiglass at check-in, boarding and information desks, distance markings and disinfection, limitation of passengers per bus and protective measures in the aircraft itself such as mandatory masks will accompany us for a long time.

Current security measures can be found on the homepage of airports and airlines.

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Ilse Konheisner-Holub

Group Practice Leader Aviation

Hotline available 24/7: +43 5 04 04 200