Johannesburg - Airbus recently revealed the latest findings in a two-year global consultation with more than 1.75 million people.
The results showed that what passengers wanted from flying in the future was for it to be more sustainable and less stressful.
l 63 percent of people worldwide say they will fly more by 2050.
l 60 percent do not think social media will replace the need to see people face-to-face.
l 96 percent believe aircraft will need to be more sustainable or “eco-efficient”.
“Aviation is the real world wide web,” says Charles Champion, Airbus executive vice-president, engineering.
“The results of the survey show that there is nothing better than face-to-face contact. The world is woven together by a web of flights that creates ever-expanding social and economic networks: 57 million jobs, 35 percent of world trade, and $2.2 trillion in global GDP.
“Since we launched the Future by Airbus, we have engaged with people in 192 countries in a dialogue about the future of air travel.
“This resulted in our revolutionary Airbus concept plane and cabin which offer a glimpse into some of the innovations that could meet evolving passenger trends and environmental considerations.
“It’s clear that people are really excited about the future of sustainable flight and we want them to be part of shaping that future.”
l 86 percent of people think using less fuel is key and 85 percent want a reduction in carbon emissions.
l 66 percent want quieter aircraft and 65 percent want planes which are fully recyclable.
Champion notes that as more people fly more often, the greater their expectations will be for the “end-to-end passenger experience”. The Airbus consultation highlighted gripes such as queues at passport control, slow check-in and baggage collection, sitting on the tarmac, and circling in holding patterns around airports. - Saturday Star