The Crisis at Year 1 – The Future and Lasting Impacts from the Pandemic

Ernie Arvai, President of AirInsight Group and Michel Merluzeau, who heads AIR (AirInsight Research) discussed the future and lasting impacts from the Pandemic and the nature of changes to the industry we might see. The focus was on changes – permanency vs temporary – and what we can expect over the next few years. This article summarizes their “fireside chat” conversation.

Merluzeau is immediately concerned by the current situation: “the world has been affected by this once in a generation event.  There are plenty of issues that have surfaced and even violently emerged” but remains positive about the adaptability of society and business in general with ” the new tools to compensate for business travel in an environment in which negotiations are not necessarily discussed in person.  As we’ve discussed many times, Ernie, the question is whether this is going to be here stay, or return to normality in the next 2-3 years.  That is the over-hanging question and is the Damocles sword for airlines.”