The economic shutdown brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak is going to be a massive challenge for all facets of the travel industry in year’s to come.
Even if the bans were lifted today, polls have shown it will take at least another four months before people start thinking about traveling again. And a lot of business travel could become obsolete now that companies are accustomed to Zoom meetings.
Winning back the public to air travel is going to take a lot of work. Airlines have to woo travelers to use their services. Destinations have to build overwhelming appeal. Airport must do both to break the brittle aspects of the industry.
As we stumble through the pandemic, it’s time to look at operations and design to determine what the new normal will need to look like. Business as usual has to become unusual.
The classical gatehold has to go on hold. Does anyone think travelers that were against sitting close to one another in tightly packed holdrooms are going to change post-social distancing? Will centralized kitchens delivering food and snacks via mobile ordering replace the crammed quarters of many airport eateries? Curbside pickup is very popular outside of the airport now thanks to COVID-19.
The much maligned security checkpoint isn’t going to see its favor rise. Packing into cramped security lines had little appeal in a pre-pandemic world.
And how many touch points will your customers really want in an airport after this?
Making the right plan now will benefit your airport for years to come. It’s especially important for smaller airports trying to compete near large international hubs. Airlines pulling service now could find little reason to return. Knowing your airport can provide less crowding and more social distancing is a powerful tool that large airports can’t compete with.
The length of the impact downturn is still unknown, but the return to normal isn’t likely. Planning for a new way of doing business will give you the proactive approach for success long after this state of the world has passed.
