The sky is changing fast: Six trends re-shaping air travel

1. Sustainability and the drive to decarbonize

Net zero by 2050 was previously thought of as aspirational – but it is now a strategic driver. Aviation accounts for around 2.5% of global CO2 emissions², a figure that could rise as other sectors move to decarbonize more rapidly. European aviation traffic, for example, is forecast to produce emissions increasing by 8% from 2023 to 2024³.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) offers a path forward, offering lifecycle emissions up to 80%⁴ lower than conventional jet fuel. Yet cost and supply constraints remain: SAF is likely to remain two to three times more expensive than fossil jet fuel until at least 2030. Regulation is accelerating adoption, however, with Europe’s ReFuelEU Aviation mandating a 2% SAF blend in 2025, rising to 20% by 2050⁵, while Airbus is targeting the delivery of a first hydrogen airliner in the 2030s⁶.

For industry leaders, sustainability is as much about market position as environmental responsibility. Those who embed it into their commercial strategy now will have a competitive edge as customer demand increases and regulations continue to evolve and tighten.

2. Digital and contactless passenger experience

The pandemic accelerated a trend that has become permanent. Passengers now demand a faster, more seamless journey through airports, featuring convenience and personalization. Biometric identification and digital touchpoints are no longer experimental, but expected. European hubs including Amsterdam, London, and Frankfurt already operate biometric boarding gates and e-gates, demonstrating what a frictionless journey looks like.

Meanwhile, mobile apps, real-time flight updates, and integrated digital wallets are raising the bar for service consistency across carriers and airports. The numbers are telling: 97% of travelers report satisfaction with air travel in the International Air Transport Association’s (IATAs) 2025 airline industry financial outlook, and nearly 90% say it improves their quality of life⁷.

The opportunity lies in scalability. Operators who can deliver this experience reliably at high volumes will not only boost satisfaction but capture loyalty in an increasingly competitive market.

3. AI and operational intelligence

Behind every smooth passenger journey is now a network of AI-driven decisions: predictive maintenance, crew scheduling, and real-time disruption management. Predictive maintenance alone can reduce technical delays by up to 30% and lower costs by as much as 20%⁸, savings that can run from $10,000 to $150,000 per aircraft per hour of avoided downtime.

Airports like Frankfurt are already using AI assistants to support operations control, while airlines are deploying AI chatbots to manage customer enquiries at scale. As passenger volumes surge, AI will shift from being a support tool to a core enabler of resilience and profitability.

4. Advanced air mobility and aircraft innovation

The next decade will bring a step change in aviation technology. Electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, once a feature of science fiction, are now moving into pilot projects. By 2040, around 12,000 eVTOLs could be delivered globally, growing to over 33,000 by 2050⁹. They promise zero-emission, short-distance travel and entirely new urban mobility models.

Traditional aircraft are evolving too. Narrow-body designs now offer extended range and efficiency, hydrogen propulsion is in active development, and unmanned systems are beginning to integrate into regulated airspace. Managing this mix will require new air traffic management solutions and close coordination between aviation and urban infrastructure.

Those who establish operational and regulatory capabilities early will be the ones shaping new markets, not just responding to them.

5. Unified digital platforms

Legacy technology has long constrained airlines’ ability to innovate. Today, unified digital platforms, integrating retail, operations, and back-office functions, promise a single source of trust for customer, operational, and financial data.

These platforms enable dynamic pricing, order management, and real-time operational visibility, while also enhancing personalization and streamlining processes. Industry-led initiatives such as ONE Order¹⁰, regulated by the IATA, are reinforcing this shift, replacing today’s fragmented PNR, e-ticket, and EMD records with a single, retail-style order. This creates a smoother, more consistent experience for passengers – from purchase through to travel – and allows airlines to manage products and services with the same agility as modern online retailers.

But technology alone is not the differentiator – aligning platform transformation with business model change is what will deliver sustained competitive advantage.

6. Demand and workforce renewal

Technology can accelerate performance, but aviation remains human at its core. Many experienced professionals retired or left during the pandemic, leaving persistent gaps in technical operational roles. At the same time, demand for air travel has rebounded faster than some expected, putting pressure on recruitment, training, and retention.

The industry’s ability to meet growth targets – and to deliver on the five other trends – depends on a skilled, adaptable workforce. Digital tools can help bridge the gaps, but safety-critical and customer-facing roles still depend on deep human expertise and judgement. 

New AI-enabled approaches, such as BearingPoint’s GenXplore, are showing how workforce challenges can be addressed more systematically. By analyzing existing job data across entire organizations, GenXplore can probe where AI could support or augment specific roles, identifying opportunities to redeploy human talent to higher-value tasks. This creates a living map of how skills and technology can evolve together, helping organizations balance efficiency with resilience.

Ultimately, building an adaptable workforce – one that can thrive alongside new technology – will be a defining factor in meeting both operational and strategic goals.