Podcast 073: Building travel confidence with masks on, change fees off

09/02/20 • 34 min

In this episode, co-hosts Max Flight and Mary Kirby discuss how the COVID-19 crisis has dramatically altered PaxEx, and whether some changes – like the axing of change fees by US legacy airlines – will be permanent.

They also consider how the inflight connectivity landscape is being reshaped in the face of sector consolidation and heightened passenger expectations, and share their thoughts on how the broader aviation industry will recover from the pandemic.

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Podcast 072: The future of travel in a post-pandemic world

In this episode, co-hosts Max Flight and Mary Kirby break down how COVID-19 is rapidly changing virtually every touchpoint of #PaxEx, and consider whether air travel will be forever altered at the airport and in-flight.

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Podcast 074: Ready to fly, but has COVID reset PaxEx expectations?

In this episode, co-hosts Max Flight and Mary Kirby consider whether the aviation industry is poised for a faster-than-expected recovery given the extraordinary pent-up demand for air travel. They discuss IATA’s latest survey, which suggests that people will fly once they receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

But has the pandemic reset our passenger experience expectations?

Next, Cathay Pacific’s decision to let first and business passengers remove their masks when sleeping in the lie-flat position has generated a mixed response from readers. Some reckon that it makes common sense, others see it as classist and unfair. Mary and Max explore both sides of the argument.

Finally, aviation seems to be largely in agreement that, in a post-COVID world, its eco-credentials must improve. Myriad new ideas have been tabled to date including new turboprops, blended wing body aircraft, hybrid electric aircraft, plus new turbofans and synthetic fuel, not to mention exploratory studies into hydrogen-powered aircraft. A former executive for Pratt & Whitney, Max shares some insight into the challenges of going green, and some of his favorite ideas.