Creating a safer journey: Exploring Emerging innovations in the aviation sector

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the global aviation sector in an unprecedented way. It has brought changes to air passenger travel behaviour, with demand being reduced significantly due to border closures and concerns over the spread of the virus. As a result, the aviation industry has been required to adopt new technologies and procedures to offer a safer journey in terms of bio-safety and security. This unique scenario has presented an opportunity to redesign safety practices and create solutions to restore trust and reduce risks both in-flight as well as within airports. Examples include touchless/gesture-based self-service devices, airport-based passenger tracking technologies, contactless biometrics, autonomous handling services using robotics, and automated cleaning and sanitising innovations. This chapter describes some of these innovations and practices that are being adopted by major airports and airlines around the world, offering a value proposition for a bio-secure, safer environment, to enhance the wellbeing of air transport passengers.