New Amadeus reports: Flight disruptions expected to stay high

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Flight disruptions remain high, spurring Amadeus to study aviation management strategies with industry leaders to mitigate passenger impact.

Data from Infare1 reveals that flight disruptions, manifested through schedule adjustments, are currently 300% higher than the historical average, highlighting ongoing challenges in the aviation sector due to a workforce shortage and a swift resurgence in global air travel demand.

In response to these challenges, Amadeus, a leading travel technology firm, has initiated an extensive research project titled ‘Better together: Rethinking how to manage disruption in aviation’. This study, involving top executives from airlines and airports, aims to delve into the magnitude of these disruptions and strategize on minimizing passenger inconveniences.

Findings from this research show that over half of the airline and airport leaders (52%) observed an increase in disruptions compared to 2019, with only a third noting a decrease. As the anticipation of continued disruptions grows among industry leaders, formulating strategies to lessen their effects has become crucial.

“In 2022 airlines struggled with supply and staffing issues, but during 2023, airlines and their partners are simply facing an unprecedented return of demand. Of course, that’s very welcome, but it brings its own operational challenges,” said Harry Grewal, Director of Infrastructure and Customer Experience, IATA

The research provides several noteworthy findings:

• 64% of airlines are channeling funds into advanced technology to enhance their disruption management capabilities.
• The primary motive for these investments, as cited by 70% of airlines, is to ‘enhance our public image’, significantly surpassing the objective of ‘cost reduction’, which stands at 34%.
• Airlines underscore the importance of ‘integrating our operational systems more closely to get a comprehensive view of disruptions’ as a key improvement measure.
• 50% of airport executives identify the ‘absence of unified technology to unite stakeholders’ as their main hurdle in managing disruptions.
• Additionally, ‘the eleventh-hour provision of information by airlines’ is flagged by a third of airport executives as a continual issue.

All surveyed airports are planning technology investments in their Operational Control Centers to better navigate disruptions, with a quarter aiming to implement these changes within the next year.

Holger Mattig, SVP Product Management, Amadeus Airport & Airline Operations, said: “Disruption is a hugely complex problem that requires airlines, airports, ground handlers and others to work collaboratively. Unfortunately, we still have too many information silos in aviation, which impacts the overall response and ultimately passengers. However, I do sense a real determination across the industry to put historic commercial tensions to one side and deliver a better, more joined-up and traveler-centric approach to disruption that’s empowered by shared technology. At Amadeus, we are happy to contribute to this stronger ecosystem collaboration across people and technology, allowing for more efficient airport operations and a smoother end-to-end passenger experience”.

This study explores the various hurdles in improving disruption management and identifies enhancing passenger experience, reducing costs, and mitigating reputational risk as key drivers for innovation. Through detailed interviews with leaders from entities such as Air France, SAS, Western Sydney International Airport, and Queen Alia International Airport, the report highlights several innovative initiatives. These include efforts to streamline passenger re-accommodation, optimize the planning of non-air travel components, and foster more cohesive operations among airlines, airports, and ground handlers.

« Back to Page

• Swiss International Air Lines Announces Historic 58% Growth in 2023