The World Aviation Festival touched down in Lisbon from 26th– 28th September. Data Clarity was honoured to participate in this prestigious event, marking our return to industry gatherings since the global pandemic.
The world’s largest aviation event served as a platform where leaders from airlines, airports, and travel technology companies to define the flightpath of where aviation is heading next.
Our presence at the World Aviation Festival 2023 underscores our commitment to shaping aviation’s future. The insights gained and connections made will drive us forward to continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible.
Following numerous presentations, product showcases, panel discussions and informal conversations across the three-day event, we’ve distilled the top five insights that shed light on the aviation landscape in 2023.
1. Sustainable Aviation Fuels as a Pathway to Net Zero
The World Aviation Festival illuminated a profound shift in the aviation industry’s approach to sustainability and net zero carbon emissions.
Achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 is a monumental undertaking for the aviation sector in the battle against climate change. To realise this commitment, comprehensive efforts are imperative, and the integration of IT innovations plays a pivotal role.
Crucial enables such as artificial intelligence (AI) are instrumental in driving this change. These transformative technologies not only enhance operational efficiency but also revolutionise the passenger experience, all while mitigating the environmental footprint of air travel.
2. Companies are still only taking baby steps into integration. End-to-end solutions are key
In the aviation industry, the journey towards seamless data integration is ongoing, with companies taking cautious initial steps. However, the true transformation lies in embracing end-to-end solutions. Data integration is more than just a buzzword; it’s the linchpin that holds the potential to revolutionise airline operations. By harmonising data from various sources, including weather conditions, air traffic, aircraft performance, and passenger preferences, airlines can gain holistic insights into their operations. This comprehensive view enables them to optimise flight routes, reduce excess inventory, enhance fuel efficiency, and improve overall sustainability.
In essence, the aviation sector is gradually recognising that end-to-end data integration is the key to unlocking a future of greater efficiency, reduced waste, and informed decision-making.
3. 93% of Airports are Investigating in technology
According to Luis Felipe de Oliveira, Director General at Airports Council International (ACI), 93% of airports are investigating in technology.
The pandemic and the subsequent recovery have highlighted the importance of the digitalisation of airport operations that are crucial to the overall airport customer experience.
The Airport IT Insights Report by ACI had revealed a significant acceleration in the investment of digital solutions to make airports smarter, easier for passengers to navigate, and their interaction with numerous stakeholders seamless.
4. Fostering Good Customer Service with Technology in the Background
Ensuring exceptional customer service is at the heart of modern airline operations. Instead of replacing human interaction, technology should empower and support it. Airlines are increasingly focusing on customer-centric approaches, aiming to provide passengers with tailored experiences that seamlessly align with their needs and preferences. Leveraging the wealth of data at their disposal, airlines can enhance their services in real-time, utilising behavioural insights to offer relevant and appealing products.
By prioritising data collection and analysis, airlines stand to unlock several advantages:
Enhanced Relevance: Continuous analysis of customer searches, purchase history, and pricing algorithms enables airlines to present highly relevant offers, greatly improving customer engagement and satisfaction.
Tailored Offerings: Passengers benefit from attractive, personalised offers, leading to improved conversion rates for airlines.
Optimised Choices: Demand forecasting, driven by data insights, allows airlines to optimise sell-through rates, reduce costs, and enhance supply chain efficiency, ultimately providing passengers with a more tailored and efficient travel experience.
5. Sell, Sell, Sell…Experiences
Airlines are finding ways to monitor customers’ preferences and behaviours before, during and after their flights, spanning from pre-flight preparations to post-flight experiences.
Understanding the true worth of your customers and harnessing the power of data integration by consolidating disparate datasets into a unified source of truth. The more data an airline has related to customer purchasing or non-purchasing behaviour, the better the airline can optimise the offer.
Adopting a new data-driven mindset: Enter ClarityIFR, our comprehensive solution designed to extract genuine value from passenger engagement data.
By following a data-driven approach, airlines can highly construct customer-centric, relevant offers for in-flight catering, duty-free items, and more. These offers aren’t just what customers are interested in, but for those who are willing to invest.
With this data-driven approach, airlines can highly construct customer-centric, context-aware, and relevant offers for in-flight catering, duty-free products, and more, offers those customers are not just interested in but willing to invest in. From sourcing and developing products to supply-chain management, we align our services to predictive demand and buying behaviours, ensuring the precise offer reaches the right customer at the right time, at the right price, and on the right flight.
This strategic shift towards smarter in-flight retailing also plays a crucial role in promoting sustainability. Airlines have long grappled with the challenge of reducing their substantial carbon footprint. By adopting data-driven practices, airlines can make significant strides in reducing emissions, contributing positively to the environment.
How are we paving the way for a greener future? By putting the passengers at the centre and actively working to make flights greener through innovative inflight products and services. Data Clarity leverages its expertise in multi-vendor product integration alongside its industry-leading In-Flight retail solutions, delivering valuable solutions to meet those demands.